UV sweeps CYBL U15, U12 titles
The University of the Visayas went for two-for-two Sunday as they bagged the championships of the Under 15 and Under 12 Division 1 of the CebuYouth Basketball League 2017 Third Conference at the Talisay City Sports Complex.
UV coasted, was threatened and recovered in time to oust University of San Carlos, 70-58 in the Under 15 age group championship game, while their younger brothers toppled SHS-Ateneo de Cebu, 86-74 in the Under 12 championship game.
In the Under 15 game, UV jumped on USC from the get go taking a 6-0 lead in the opening minute of the game, thanks to a crippling full-court press and gaining momentum outright. They streaked to leads of 18-5, 3417, and 57-37 after the first three periods. But USC didn’t give up just yet, going to Reinhard Jumamoy who made 12 straight points in an 18-4 blast that cut the deficit to six, 61-55, with 3:40 left in the game.
UV suddenly couldn’t find its range and was firing blanks making just one field goal and two free throws in the stretch. Steve Nash Enriquez finally broke the UV silence with a shot-clock beating triple from the left wing to give UV breathing room at 64-55, 2:45 left.
UV then stretched the lead to 70-55 and USC was never the same after that with Pio Ornopia’s triple at the buzzer serving as an endgame consolation.
The game featured Cebu’s best point guards in the Under 15 age group in and didn’t disappoint. Enriquez and Jumamoy wowed the crowd with their overall leadership, clutch baskets and nifty assists. Enriquez led UV with 15 points while Neil Fajardo added 11. Jumamoy had 21 points but didn’t get enough support from the rest of the bench.
In the Under 12 championship game, UV leaned on Daniel Padilla’s career-high 36 points and a fourth quarter breakaway to settle a close game that was nip an tuck for three quarters.
The game was tied 2222 after the first quarter before SHS-Ateneo took the half at 40-36. UV replied to take a 63-59 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Like a thief in the night, UV exploded for a 14-0 blast to start the fourth quarter, with Marc Abangan drilling the triples from the same spot and Padilla adding a trey and a field goal, giving UV a commanding 77-59 lead with 6:11 to go.
NikolasYu finally scored for SHS-Ateneo at the 5:14 mark but the Magis Eagles didn’t have the firepower to overcome the lead. Abangan had 16 points in support of Padilla. Kristian Michael Porter led SHS-Ateneo with 15 points while Jared Bahay scored 13.
The CYBL Under 15 and Under 12 championships come after UV pocketed the CYBL Under 19 title late last year on top of the CESAFI championships in the college and high school divisions. They go for the CYBL Under 10 title this weekend against Don Bosco.