SHS-Ateneo, UV dominate SBP Passerelle Regionals

POTOTAN, Iloilo, Philippines — In a rematch of last year’s Passerelle division championship game, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu squeezed out a 59-55 win over defending champion St. Robert’s International Academy to kick off the Visayas Regional Finals for the 34th SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament backed by Milo.

Drawn by lots to play the opener of this two-day tournament, the protagonists from the 2018 finals didn’t disappoint as they played nip-and-tuck ball for the entire game with end-game breaks and execution deciding the outcome.

St. Robert’s took the upper hand of the first three periods, 19-14, 32-28 and 42-41 before the Magis Eagles rallied in a tense-filled and see-saw fourth period. SHS-Ateneo took the lead at 47-46 early in the fourth period but St. Robert’s replied to regain the lead at 48-47. SHS-Ateneo built a 51-48 lead only to be tied at 51-all with 3:20 left in the game. An exchange of baskets ensued with yet another tie at 55-all, 1:20 left. Jared Bahay made it 56-55 for the Magis Eagles, 1:12 remaining before Alrex Tiolo missed two crucial free throws for St. Robert’s with 49 seconds left.

 Raprap Arradaza added a free throw for a 57-55 lead with six seconds left. But after a time-out and with ball possession, St. Robert’s threw the ball away for what could’ve been an overtime-sending last shot. Michael Asoro added two more free throws as time expired for the final score. Asoro led the Magis Eagles with 13 points. Luis Sitchon led St. Robert’s with eight. The win was a big boost for the team after being reduced to 13 players. RJ Dacalos is still recovering from a fractured forearm while Kristian Michael Porter went down with a suspected fracture of the tibia at practice yesterday.

In the Small Basketeers Philippines division, the University of the Visayas overcame a sluggish start to thwart Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion of Roxas, 42-32. UV found in itself in unfamiliar territory, a close game, in the first half.

UV built a slim 9-8 lead at the end of the first period before Purisima took a 17-14 halftime lead. The SBP Lancers finally woke up in the third period behind Jan Mark Toring and Neil John Bernante who combined for all of UV’s 15 third period points to build a 31-23 lead going into the final period. Although not playing its usual fast-paced and dominating game, UV managed to hold off Purisima in the final period, with the smallest gap at seven points, 37-30 with three minutes left in the game. Toring led UV with 13 points. Jimrex Tinoy led Purisima with eight.

In other Passerelle division game, HERCOR College (1-0) of Roxas stopped University of St. La Salle Bacolod (0-1), 62-46. The other SBP game saw St. John’s Institute of Bacolod (1-0) nip Hua Siong College of Iloilo (0-1), 50-47.

All teams in each division play in a single round-robin classification phase with the top two teams clashing for the Visayas Region Championship later today. The other two play for third place. The Visayas champion represents the region in the national finals that will be played in Roxas City November 23-24. (FREEMAN)