Semifinalists in SBP, Passerelle divisions complete

THE SEMIFINAL cast has been completed in both the Small Basketeers of the Philippines (SBP) and the Passerelle divisions after the final day of eliminations in the 2011 Milo-backed BEST Tournament yesterday at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu old campus in Mango Avenue.

Sister squads University of San Carlos (USC) North and South renewed their rivalry in the Passerelle division yesterday but it was the USC-South squad that took the final seat in the next round after they came back from a six-point deficit in the last three minutes of the match to defeat the North team, 52-49.

The victory gave USC-South a 3-1 (win-loss) record and the second seed in group B, behind the undefeated University of the Visayas (UV), which finished with a 4-0 record, after downing the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U), 65-35. Theo Flores led the onslaught with 14 markers.

USC-South were facing imminent defeat as they trailed, 43-49, with three minutes remaining. However, Ralf Camacho ignited an 8-0 run with two baskets while a short jumper by Mitchel Antigua gave USC-South the lead, 51-49, with just 30 seconds remaining. USC-North had two chances to retake the lead but Dolan Adlawan and Lorenzo Piad missed two free-throws each.

Paul Galinato padded their lead to three, 52-49, with a free-throw then USC-North sealed their doom with a botched inbound pass.

Carlo Ortega led the winners with 11 points. USC-South will face the many-time champions, SHS-AdC, in the semifinals while UV takes on the University of Cebu in the other pairing. UC won over the Salazar Colleges of Science and Technology, 77-38.

In the SBP class, SHS-AdC faces USC-South while Cebu Eastern College takes on USC-North. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio