CYBL hoopfest enters playoffs stage

CEBU, Philippines — With a record-high 154 teams, the Cebu Youth Basketball League–CYBL’s Third Conference enters the knockout stages to wrap up the schoolyear-ending tournament of the 12-year-old league. 

The school-based powerhouses are expectedly in the Division 1 playoffs while new faces have emerged in the Division 2’s Friendly Finale series.

In the Division 1’s Under 12 age group, newly-crowned CVIRAA champion University of the Visayas (UV) is the top seed, followed by SHS-Ateneo de Cebu, Sisters of Mary School Boystown and Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC).  UV faces DBTC in the semifinals while SHS-Ateneo goes up against SMS-Boystown this weekend.

In the Division 1’s Under 15 age group, UV and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) topped their respective groups to take the top seeding. UV plays against SHS-Ateneo 1, while USPF faces SHS-Ateneo 2 in the semifinals.

Brand new NBTC champion Southwestern University-Phinma seeks another title in less than two weeks as it takes on SCSIT in the quarterfinals of the Division 1’s Under 18 age group. Facing off in the other quarterfinal round game are Cebu Province/Sisters of Mary School Boystown and Labangon. Already seeded in the semifinals as top seeds are SHS-Ateneo and DBTC.

In the Division 2 Friendly Finale series, UV will play DBTC for the Under 10 title. DBTC topped CLBA, 35-24, while UV eliminated USC South, 47-24, in the semifinals.

In the Division 2’s Under 12 age group quarterfinals, Coach A outlasted USC, 65-56, while USC North-B won over Cebu Elite, 49-30. Coach A will face UV-A as USC North B will play One on One A in the semifinals.

In the Division 2’s Under 15 age group quarterfinals, DBTC-B defeated CLBA, 51-37. One on One B won over Coach A, 45-34. JunMeds ousted SIPS-B, 70-25 and CIT-U stunned UV-B, 56-40.

In the Division 2’s Under 18 age group, SACS booked a seat in the semifinals with a 54-52 win over D Rabens A. UV Pardo-B nipped St. Cecilia’s College, 56-55, while Tayud edged out Jaybox Carcar, 44-37.

The playoffs for Division 1 and the Division 2 Friendly Finale series caps the biggest CYBL tournament that features the 154 teams spread over four age groups: Under 10, 12, 15 and 18.

When all is done, 259 games would’ve been played since mid-October. This serves as the schoolyear-ending tournament and will be followed by a CYBL Summer League in April.