UV faces SHS-Ateneo for a title anew

We’re going to have yet another showdown between the University of the Visayas and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu. This time, it’s for the Under 19 age group of the Cebu Youth Basketball League at the ongoing CYBL 3rd Conference after both teams scored wins in the semifinals over the weekend. UV rallied to oust USPF 65-59, while SHS-Ateneo staved off a resilient WJC Auto Sales side, 68-61.

UV trailed USPF, 1524 and 32-43, after the first two periods, then made its move in the second half to overcome an upset-seeking Baby Panthers side. The Baby Lancers trimmed the lead to 47-51 after three periods, then went to the hot hands of Denzel Sabroso who had eight fourth period points to finally overtake USPF in the fourth quarter and book a trip to the finals.

Kenneth Brillo led UV with 14 points while Sabroso added 13. Ken Gato led USPF with 21 points. In the other semifinal game, the Magis Eagles led from start to finish in a close game where they couldn’t break away and had to deal with fighting WJC team.

After taking leads of 1815, 32-29 and 46-40 after the first three quarters, SHSAteneo finally created breathing room in the fourth quarter behind Ray Lewis who had seven points in the stretch.

Lewis led the team with 13 points while Hans Mesina and Darren Ngo had 12 apiece. The UV-SHSAteneo showdown will be third championship game for the two teams. SHSAteneo won the SBP division championship of the SBP Passerelle tournament over UV before UV took the CESAFI Juniors division title over SHSAteneo de Cebu.

In other games, UV teams went 2-0 in the Under 10, 12 and 15 divisions. Don Bosco also remained undefeated at 2-0 in the Division 1’s Under 12 age group. In Division 2, Monterey School of Talisay remained undefeated at 2-0 in the Under 12 and 15 age groups. One on One-B (U12) and ATS 1 (U15) also remained inscathed, also in Division 2 play.

The CYBL 3rd Conference is the year-ending tournament of the CYBL.

A total of 73 teams are seeing action in four age groups: Under 10, 12, 15 and 19. The Under 12 and 15 age groups are split into two divisions with the stronger teams playing in Division One while the developmental teams play in Division Two.