SBP top seeds chalk up convincing victories

THE TOP SEEDS in the Small Basketeers Philippines (SBP) division logged in convincing wins led by the 57-30 thumping which the reigning champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu gave the Southwestern University over the weekend at the Cebu Eastern College gym.

The hosts Cebu Eastern College (CEC) also outran University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR), 68-32, in Group A games. In the SBP games of Group B, University of San Carlos North and South arranged a showdown for first place after scoring their second straight wins over different opponents at the Barangay Mambaling Sports Complex.

USC North cruised to a 52-23 win over the University of the Visayas (UV), while USC South ran over Don Bosco, 54-19.

SHS-AdC and CEC now lead Group A with 2-0 (win-loss) slates and will face each other next for the top seed spot.

The same is true for sister schools USC North and South who will also dispute Group B’s top spot after both are also tied with 2-0 records.

All four teams are assured of slots in the cross-over semifinals.

In the elder Passerelle division, SHS-AdC had to tough it out against CEC and won, 74-68.

The defending champions actually led, 23-12, after the first period but suddenly lost focus and allowed the Dragons to snatch away the lead, 35-33, at halftime.

Order was restored in the third period when the SHS-AdC recovered for a 57-49 lead.

CEC would threaten again and cut the lead down to two at 62-60 in the fourth quarter, but SHS-AdC went on a 12-1 run to ice the win.

In the lone Group B game, USC South bounced back from a loss to defeat Don Bosco, 58-48. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio