UV, SHS-Ateneo clash anew in CYBL Finals

CEBU, Philippines — It’s another showdown between age-group powerhouses University of the Visayas and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu for the Under 12 age group championship of the CYBL Summer League 2019.

Both teams racked up wins in the semifinal round, with UV trouncing St. Benedict Child Education Centre, 62-22, and SHS-Ateneo stopping Don Bosco Technical College-Cebu, 37-28.

Pre-tourney favorite UV opened a 24-3 lead at the end of the first period and never looked back, taking a halftime lead at 32-11 and 48-23 after three periods. John Carl Baring led the wards of coach Ronald Bucao with 12 points as Rocele Dellan led St. Benedict with 13.

In the other semifinal round game, SHS-Ateneo started slowly, taking a 16-7 lead after the first period. The lead stretched to 21-11 at halftime but Don Bosco rallied to keep the game close at 26-20, end of the third period.

The Magis Eagles of coach Gabriel Joseph “Gigi” Catolico then kept the Greywolves at bay for the rest of the game for the win. Kean Gubat led SHS-Ateneo with 12 points as Benj Chua added nine. Nyjah Escobido led Don Bosco with eight.

UV will face SHS-Ateneo for yet another final showdown on Saturday.

In the quarterfinal round of the Under 15 age group, University of Southern Philippines-A and Southwestern University-Phinma gained berths in the semis on contrasting manner.

USPF-A led all the way, then nearly lost it all as it nipped Don Bosco, 43-42. Meanwhile, SWU-Phinma eliminated UV-B, 46-37. USPF-A was leading comfortably at the end of the first two periods at 17-10 and 30-12 before the Greywolves stormed back to tie the game at 36-all at the end of the third period. It was nip and tuck all the way to the end with USPF-A eking out the win. Jonathan Manalili led the Baby Panthers with nine points as Kyle Cabonilas paced DBTC with 15.

The Baby Cobras, on the other hand, led from start to finish with leads of 10-4, 22-15 and 36-24 at the end of the first three periods. MJ Tigmo led SWU-Phinma ith 12 while Vincent Barliso had 11 to lead UV-B.

USPF-A will face UV in the semifinals while SWU-Phinma takes on SHS-Ateneo in the other semifinals match-up this weekend.

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In an Under 18 game, Batang Mandaragat stunned SWU-PHINMA, 66-61, to take the second quarterfinals berth in Group C. Both teams were tied with SCSIT for first place with identical 3-1 records, but SWU-PHINMA (+6) and Batang Mandaragat (+1) came out as the top two teams due to goal difference. SCSIT had a -7 goal difference. The Under 18 playoffs will also be played this weekend.Maayong adlaw!

Rico Navarro

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