Gallant UV hangs tough but falls still to La Salle

SAN FERNANDO CITY, PAMPANGA , Philippines — In the rematch that was now for the championship, the result was the same.

The University of the Visayas SBP team hung tough, challenged and showed La Salle Greenhills the UV version of never-say-die, but alas, this wasn’t enough.

The three-peat champions scored their fourth straight national SBP division championship after nipping UV, 52-48, at the national finals of the 33rd SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament backed by Milo over the weekend here at the University of the Assumption.

In a virtual replay of their first round game, La Salle and UV played nip-and-tuck ball throughout the game with UV taking an 18-14 lead after the first period and LSGH recovering to lead, 28-27 after two quarters.

The Greenies pounced on UV to take a 44-37 lead after three quarters behind Michael Cortez’s eight points. It was a safe and comfortable lead, or so they thought.

Kenneth Cole, Khian Panerio and Neil Sinoy then combined forces for a UV rally, slashing the lead to only two points, 50-48, with 1:21 left in the game, sending the UV crowd to a frenzy and LSGH calling a time-out.

Lorenzo Hizon, who got back into the game after receiving treatment for a cut on his leg, then delivered the final blow to deliver LSGH’s four-peat championship.

It was a case of the big men of La Salle delivering the goods against the shorter/smaller but scrappy UV side.

LSGH Coach Justin Tan was all praises for UV, saying that this was one of the toughest SBP championship games that he has had to coach.

“Galing nila. We really had a hard time dealing with the scrappiness of UV, but our leaders also stepped up to the challenge,” he said.

For his part, UV coach Ronald Bucao was proud of the boys despite the loss. “Nothing to be ashamed of. We are proud of the boys for showing that we can match up with the best teams from Manila,” he stated.

This was one of the closest games in the history of the national finals, as LSGH scored one-sided wins in their three previous championships, including a clash with UV in 2016.

Hizon and Cortez had 10 points each to lead LSGH while Kenneth Cole led UV with ten. Khian Panerio added eight.

In the Passerelle division championship game, National University breezed past Corpus Christi School of Cagayan de Oro, 99-39,  with Kim Tamayo leading the attack with 22 points. Kenji Duremdes added 11 while Cebuano Reinhard Jumamoy had 10. International School for Better Beginnings (ISBB) grabbed third place in the SBP division by topping Corpus Christi School, 60-56. ISBB also took third place honors in the Passerelle division, defeating St. Robert’s International Academy of Iloilo, 88-72.

At the awarding ceremony, Milo Sports Executive Lester Castillo and Magnolia Coach Chito Victolero, whose son played for the LSGH SBP team, were on hand to present the medals and trophies to the winning teams. (FREEMAN)