UV claims CYBL title
The University of the Visayas asserted their supremacy in basketball anew by winning the Under 19 championship of
the Cebu Youth Basketball League Third Conference via an 88-80 win over Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu at the Magis Eagles Arena
Saturday.
In what has now become a usual practice for them, UV started slowly, fell behind, then finally woke up in the third quarter to score the win. Trailing 19-20 and 34-42 after the first two quarters, UV went to Denzel Sabroso and Kenneth Brillo who combined for 16 points in a third quarter rally, with UV overtaking SHSAteneo, 56-55, with a minute left in the third quarter.
It was a dogfight early in the fourth quarter as the Magis Eagles refused to fade away, regaining the lead at 62-60 and 64-62 before UV said enough is enough. Brillo spearheaded a 14-2 counter punch to create some breathing room at 76-66, with Sabroso drilling his fifth triple of the game for the ten-point lead, 4:45 remaining.
An exchange of baskets ensued as the Magis Eagles couldn’t get any closer and UV settled to defend their lead. UV displayed their experience down the stretch as the veterans of Coach Gerald Ylaya stepped up as SHS-Ateneo threatened. Sabroso led UV with 26 while Brillo added 15. Others in double digits were Joshua Renz Oritz (15) and Ivan Maata (14). John Aguilar led the Magis Eagles with 15 as Ray Lewis had 14. Carlos Canoy and Josh Barrientos had 13 and 11 points, respectively.
In Division One games of the Under 15 age group, SWU-Ermita, 4033. SWU-Phinma stunned Don Bosco, 56-50. SHSAteneo won over USJ-R, 61-53. USC North thumped Thumbs Up-1, 57-36. In Division One Under 12 games, SMSBoystown beat One on One-A, 57-28 while SHSAteneo defeated USJ-R, 61-53. In Under 10 games, USC South defeated Cebu Elite, 27-15. SHS-Ateneo won over PAREFSpringdale, 39-23. UV cruised to a 36-22 win over SACS. St. Benedict beat USC North, 43-29. In Division Two games of the Under 12 age group, Consolacion won over Ermita, 40-33. SWUPhinma beat St. Benedict, 42-22. In Under 15 games of Division Two, SACS defeated SHS-AdC 3, 7249. ATS 2 beat Thumbs Up-B, 60-44. Don Sergio Osmeña NHS/Labangon won over RD Basketball, 57-33.
With the Under 19 games done, games of the Under 10, 12 and 15 age groups of the CYBL 3rd Conference resume in the year-ending tournament of the Cebu Youth Basketball League.—
Rico Navarro, Columnist