CEBU, Philippines – Rookie teams Abellana National School and University of the Visayas-Mandaue debuted with big wins at the Alaska Basketball D-League 2014 at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Mango Avenue Campus Gym.
ANS defeated University of San Carlos-South-A, 47-31, in an Under 15 Division 1 game, while UV-Mandaue won over fellow rookie team A.E. Sports of Toledo, 56-49, in an Under 17 Division 2 game. In Under 15 Division 2 games, USJR-B defeated USC South-C, 58-31, while Southwestern University beat A.E. Sports of Toledo, 70-33. In games of the Under 12 Division 1, USC cruised to an 81-17 win over USC South-A. UV-A squeaked past USJR-A, 29-24; SHS-Ateneo de Cebu-A won over Thumbs Up, 62-34. In the lone Under 12 Division 2 game, Quiot Elementary School debuted with a 44-9 win over USJR-B. In the Under 10 games, USJR edged SHS-Ateneo de Cebu-A, 36-35 in overtime as Cebu Eastern College stormed past SHS-Ateneo-B, 61-9.
The Alaska Basketball D-league 2014 is the third major tournament of the year established by the Cebu Youth Basketball League in partnership with Alaska. Titles are up for grabs in the Under 17, 15, 12 and 10 age groups where the U17, U15 and U12 have two divisions: 1 and 2. Division1 is for the established teams while Division 2 is for the developmental teams. The tournament will also introduce a Girls Under 17 age group soon. (FREEMAN)