THE University of the Visayas (UV) displayed its readiness in the upcoming Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) season after winning the Under-12 crown in the Cebu Youth Basketball League (CYBL) preseason tournament.
UV dominated the championship game against the SHS-AdC, 73-16, at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Mango Avenue campus gym on Saturday, July 13, 2019.
UV’s young cagers blew the game wide open early with a backbreaking 18-0 blitz start in the first quarter and controlled the rest of the game.
John Mark Arlis Toring scored 19 points for UV, 12 in the first quarter when UV had a 26-3 lead.
Carl Jacob Cortes handed 12 points highlighted with three three-point shots, while John Carl Baring contributed eight points.
“This team is the grassroots players for UV. The team is composed of players from our Milo Passerelle and Cesafi players,” said coach Ronald Bucao in Cebuano after the game.
Bucao added the tournament is part of the team’s conditioning for the Cesafi Under-12 tournament, which will start next month.
“We have 10 Cesafi players. The players played well here but I don’t want to tell them that we’re already ready for Cesafi. We need more adjustment before the start of the season,” Bucao said.
The Cesafi Under-12 division was added only last season, and UV became the inaugural champion.
UV will aim to go for a double championship in the CYBL after the Under-15 team clinched a ticket to the championship game.
UV’s Under-15 team slammed the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USP-F), 77-37, in the semifinals.
Enricke Joshua Herbito spearheaded UV’s balanced attack with 10 points, while Denisvee Ray Sinoy, Fergus Derick Felices, Frank Gabunada and Nicdom Andrei Cabanero finished with eight points apiece.
Cyrus Owen Baguio was the lone bright spot for USP-F with 10 points.
UV will face a familiar opponent in SHS-AdC in the U-15 championship.
The SHS-AdC defeated the Southwestern University-Phinma, 64-54, in the separate semis match at the Aznar Coliseum last Thursday.
In the Division 2 games, Tayud beat Amicis, 50-35 in the Under-12, while OneonOne Training Camp defeated Punta Princesa, 43-40.