What was expected to be a dogfight turned out to be anything but that as the Raphael’s Sports Bar-backed Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) crushed the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, 92-65, in the championship game in the 19-under division of the Cebu Elite Basketball League last Sunday afternoon at the Cebu Coliseum.
After the Eagles’ heart-pounding 55-54 win in their lone elimination round encounter, expectations were high for a barn-burner. But the Eagles played superb basketball from the get-go to continue their mastery of the Baby Lancers after beating them in the finals of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) juniors class and the Cebu leg of the National Basketball Training Center.
Rendell Senining was unstoppable as he scored 10 of his game-high 25 points in the first four minutes of play with his three-pointer giving the Eagles an 18-4 lead.
UV tried to make a game out of it and even came to within five, 26-31, but three-pointers by Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw and Gio Laguyo along with the inside presence of reserve pivot Fletcher Galvez gave the Eagles a 46-32 halftime lead, an advantage that would be not be threatened the rest of the way.
Araw-Araw, a Mythical Five member as well as the Rookie of the Year in the Cesafi, added 16 points while reigning Cesafi MVP Dawn Ochea added 13. Laguyo finished with 11.
Andres Desiderio had 20 to lead UV.
UV did not go home empty handed as they were crowned champions in the 16-under class after beating the University of San Carlos, 92-48.
Earlier, USC grabbed two titles with emphatic victories in the 10-under and 13-under divisions.
The Baby Warriors prevailed over SHS-AdC in the 10-under class, 56-31, They continued on their title-spree as they outlasted UV, 68-58, in the 13-under category with Neon Chavez leading the way with 18 points.