MANILA, Philippines - La Salle Greenhills outplayed champion teams from the Visayas to claim the 2012 national crown of the Small Basketeers Philippines (SBP) and Passerelle tournament Sunday at the Capiz Gym in Roxas City.
The LSGH Greenies defeated University of San Carlos, 60-49, for the national SBP title and then edged University of the Visayas, 83-77, to secure the Passerelle crown and sweep the twin tournament organized by the BEST (Basketball Efficiency Scientific Training) Center and sponsored by Milo.
Shan Exequiel Vesagas scored a game-high 16 points to pace LSGH in the SBP championship game. Miguel Alfonso Santos added 11. Neon Alakheim Chavez, meanwhile, netted 13 points for the USC Warriors who were cited for the SBP Sportsmanship Award.
It was a heart-breaking loss in the finals for USC which scored a 56-48 triumph over the NCR champion in the round-robin semis and reached the finals with a 3-0 record.
Carlo Abadeza led the Passerelle Greenies with 15 points. Michael Louise dela Cruz added 13 markers, including the crucial 3-point basket in the dying seconds of the game to insure the win for LSGH. Dave Cabanilla top scored for the UV Baby Lancers with 20 points. Frederick James Pasturan and Theo Joshua Flores added 12 each.
Mindanao champions Ateneo de Davao, University, and Holy Child School of Davao respectively bagged third place in the SBP and Passerelle tournaments. Luzon winners Don Bosco Academy and Holy Angel University settled for fourth place honors.
Holy Angel likewise won the Sportsmanship Award for Passerelle.
The SBP is for boys 9-11 years old and the Passerelle is for boys 12-14 years of age.
BEST Center, the first basketball school in Asia and the country’s premier basketball institution, was founded by Nicanor “Nic” Jorge Jr. in 1978.
About the BEST Center
Founded in 1978 by Nicanor “Nic” Jorge, BEST Center is widely acknowledged as the Philippines’ premier basketball school. The BEST Center is renowned for teaching players the fundamentals of sport while inculcating discipline, sportsmanship, and camaraderie through their interaction with coaches, instructors, classmates, and peers. In 2007, the BEST Center was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), in recognition of its pioneering scientific approach to basketball training in the country.