UV celebrates 1st national title in 12 years

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

THE University of the Visayas shared the glory of its Passerelle team that won the 2012 SBP National U-16 basketball title hosted by Baguio City last Jan. 22-29.

UV administration led by its president and Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas, AVP for Administration Gerald Anthony “Didi” Gullas, AVP for Finance Joselito “Jiji” Gullas, VP for Academics Jacqueline Gullas-Weckman, basketball team manager Sam-Sam Gullas and the entire UV student body and high school department, offered a thanksgiving mass before presenting the entire team to the student body at the school’s student lounge yesterday.

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Later, after being treated to a lunch, the players and and the coaching staff received cash incentives from the school officials.

However, the honor would not have been UV’s had the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu not waived its slot in the tournament in favor of UV.

The Magis Eagles owned the right to play in the national tournament but gave it to UV, since the team had already participated in a lot of out-of-town games.

“Thanks to Sacred Heart-Ateneo de Cebu, they gave us the slot to the national finals, being their second best team in Cebu. Now, we came out as the best Passerelle team in the entire country,” Sam-Sam said.

The coaching staff, led by Jaymar Canoy, Randy de la Pisa and Kenneth Pepito, could not believe they have won their first-ever title— and a national title at that.

It took UV 12 years to finally earn a national title. The last one was the National Secondary Basketball title that was in Roxas City, where Pepito was part of the team led by JR Quiñahan, Reed Juntilla and Mark Ababon.

“Sam-Sam came to me two years ago telling me, sayang daw ang mga anak sa mga former Lancers nga mo-anhi sa school unya adto lang makaduwa sa laing school tungod kay wala man ta developmental team. So we organized a Passerelle team by forming the coaching staff before we started out recruitment program,” recounted Didi, who was then acted
as the athletic director of UV.

On its first year, UV was eliminated from the playoffs of the Milo Passerelle tournament and last year they made it to the finals only to lose to SHS-AdC in the finals.

Going to the Nationals, UV was the underdog.

“Dehado gyud ang UV going to the National championships, but they bravely crossed the line between impossible and possible with their determination and courage—that is the UV spirit,” added Sam-Sam.