REVENGE never felt sweeter as the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers captured the national championship in the Small Basketeers of the Philippines (SBP) division in the 34th SBP Passarelle Twin Tournament Backed by Milo with a 62-58 win over the defending champions La Salle Greenhills at the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center in Roxas City on Sunday, November 24, 2019.
Denver Bisnar and Jan Mark Toring scored 18 points each to lead UV to the improbable victory that paid back La Salle after they got beaten in the finals last year, 38-42.
With Bisnar leading the way in the second period where he scored 11 points, UV surged ahead 35-24 after ending the first ahead by just one, 16-15. Then, it was Toring's turn to do damage as he scored 12 in the third to keep UV in front 53-42 heading to the final canto.
UV kept it going and even extended their lead to 15, 57-42, with under five minutes to go but La Salle put up a fight and pulled to within four 58-62 with just 19 seconds to go. However, the wards of head coach Bucao hung tough down the stretch to seal the win and bring the national championship back to Cebu.
Brian Hachuela led La Salle with 23 markers.