THE REIGNING champion Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu pulled one out of the rabbit’s hat as it upset the University of the Visayas, 46-42, in the semifinals to keep its title-defense alive in the Small Basketeers of the Philippines (SBP) class of the 2012 Milo-backed Best Twin Tournament last Saturday at the SHS-AdC basketball courts along Mango Avenue, Cebu City.
Facing the Magis Eagles will be the top-seeded University of San Carlos, which beat the Cebu Eastern College, 53-28.
SHS-AdC held a 31-21 lead but UV’s Jose Dizon Jr. waxed hot and helped the Baby Lancers close the gap at 31-35. John Gonzaga took his turn to torch SHS-AdC’s defense as he scored six in a row to give UV the lead at 39-38.
But SHS-AdC did not give in as Jao Celerinos and Ed Macasling replied with a lay-up each to regain the lead for good for SHS-AdC at 42-39 with under two minutes left.
Celerinos led a balanced attack with eight points.
USC and SHS-AdC will face off in the SBP finals for a third straight year. USC North placed second to SHS-AdC in 2010 and 2011, but now that it has formed one united USC team with the USC South Campus, they’ve become so dominant this schoolyear.
In the lone Passerelle game, USC scored its second straight win with a 50-20 ousting of Don Bosco Technology Center to complete the semifinals cast.
SHS-AdC and CEC are the top two teams from Group A while UV and USC topped Group B. SHS-AdC faces USC while UV squares off against CEC in the semis. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio