USC, SHS-Ateneo split titles in M. Lhuillier summer hoop
Three divisions. Three different champions. This was the final result when the dust cleared at the M. Lhuillier Summer Basketball League 2015 Championship Day at the Cebu City Sports Institute last Tuesday. Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu bagged the Under 12 title, while University of San Carlos BED snared the Under 15 crown. The USC B Warriors college team then wrapped up the Under 19 championship.
In the Under 12 final, SHS-Ateneo went to the three-point shooting of Aldrich Alvez in the third quarter to open up breathing room after a close first half, then withstood an endgame rally to outlast USC, 57-54.
USC took a 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter before SHS-Ateneo recovered for a 29-26 halftime lead. After USC closed the gap to 28-31, Alvez drilled three straight triples for a 40-28 lead. USC sliced the deficit to 36-42 at the end of the third period, using this momentum to stage an endgame rally.
But SHS-Ateneo streaked to a 49-39 lead early in the fourth period. USC pulled within 48-52 courtesy of two straight baskets by Justin Betinol with 2:25 left in the game before Aaron Abunawan hit a clutch triple for a 55-48 SHS-Ateneo lead with 2:05 left.
USC gave it one last shot getting close at 52-55, with 1:20 left but Abunawan sank another basket, 57-52, with 34 seconds remaining. Gio Montano, who had an allaround game of rebounding and defense, led the Magis Eagles with 13 points as Alvez added 11. Betinol led USC with 14 followed by Reinhard Jumamoy with 12.
The Under 15 championship game wasn’t as close though as USC cruised to a 90-57 rout of SHS-Ateneo de Cebu. Using its all-out full court press, USC stifled the SHSAdC offense and jumped to an early 21-10 lead behind the leadership of Neon Chavez.
Jholo Pakanna took over in the second period with 11 second period points including three triples, for a commanding 4920 halftime lead. It was cruise control all the way for the Baby Warriors. Six USC players registered double digit scores led by Pakana’s 15, Briedyn Smith (13), Chavez (12), Anton Octaviano (11), King Balaga (11) and Steven Mendoza (10). Coco Tuadles led SHS-Ateneo with nine.
In the Under 19, the USC B Warriors had its usual slow start before recovering just in time to close out an upset-seeking SHS-Ateneo 1, 84-72. The Magis Eagles stunned the Warriors by racing to a 3219 lead after the first quarter.
USC recovered to slice the lead to 42-44 at halftime. USC then broke the game wide open in the fourth period. Up by only one 64-63, the Warriors went on a 101 run behind Dolan Adlawan and Jair Igna to take a 74-64 lead. The lead ballooned to 82-68 with 1:13 left to settle the outcome.
Bryan Divinagracia led USC with 20 points, including four triples that kept USC in the game in the third quarter. Adlawan scattered 18 points while Igna had 15 and Carlo Ortega had 14. Andrew Velasco led SHS-Ateneo 1 with 20 points before fouling out in the third quarter. Josh Sinclair and John Chen had 14 apiece.
The M. Lhuillier Summer League 2015 is the first of two summer tournaments of the Cebu Youth Basketball League.