IT WAS HEARTBREAK for the two Cebuano squads as both the University of San Carlos (USC) and the University of the Visayas (UV) bowed down to La Salle Greenhills in the championship games of their respective divisions in the national finals of the 2012 Milo-backed Best Twin Tournament late Sunday afternoon at the Capiz gym in Roxas City.
The Small Basketeers of the Philippines (SBP) squad of the University of San Carlos simply could not overcome a lethargic start and were routed by the NCR champion La Salle, 49-60.
Although UV put up more of a fight, the Baby Lancers still suffered the same fate in getting beaten by the boys in green and white from Manila, 77-83.
The Baby Lancers tried to keep in step with La Salle for the first two periods and were successful in doing so as they were just down by two, 44-46, in spite playing with just four players in the second canto.
However, La Salle turned the pressure up in the third and broke the game wide open in leading 69-53.
But the wards of head coach Jaymar Canoy proved to be a persistent bunch as they rode the hot hands of big man Dave Cabanilla, who spearheaded a comeback with 14 fourth period points that got them to within three, 77-80. It was not meant to be, though, as La Salle came up with some magic from Michael del Rosario, who swished a shot-clock beating trifecta that sealed the title with 15.1 seconds remaining.
Big man Carlo Abadeza led LSGH with 15 while de la Cruz had 13 for LSGH. Cabanilla led UV with 20, while Frederick James Pasturan and Joshua Flores had 12 apiece.
In the SBP’s title game, USC paid dearly for a slow start as they got down 12-34 at the turn. The Baby Warriors found the heart to fight back behind Neon Chavez, whose baskets in the third and in the payoff period allowed them to come within seven, 43-50.
But La Salle was just too much to handle as it closed the door with six straight points to avenge its loss to USC in the elimination round.
Shan Vesagas led LSGH with 14 points while Chavez had 17 for USC./Correspondent Jonas Panerio