OFF TO NATIONALS: SBP squad of UV tops Milo Visayas Regionals with victory over USLS-Bacolod

UV’s SBP team celebrates following their championship victory in the Milo BEST Visayas Regional Finals in Roxas City (CONTRIBUTED).

The SBP squad of the University of the Visayas (UV) earned the right to represent the region after taking the Visayas Regionals crown of the Milo-backed BEST tournament with a thrilling 47-46 win over the University of St. La Salle (USLS)-Bacolod in the finals last Sunday at the Capiz Gymnasium in Roxas City.

The victory was a hard-earned one for the wards of head coach Jaymar Canoy as they had to fend off a determined USLS squad that managed to tie the game at 39-all with less than four minutes remaining in the championship contest.

But Franco Gabunada was up to the challenge as sank a deuce with 2:33 left that shattered the deadlock. Consecutive baskets by Mike Monton and Gabunada put them up, 45-39, with 1:06 to go but USLS closed to within two after Emmanuel Ortiz sank a bucket with 45 ticks left.

UV’s Sean Salarza gave UV a four-point cushion with a clutch basket with 26 seconds remaining. A triple by Ortiz pulled USLS to within one, 46-47, with 20 seconds left but the Bacolod-based dribblers ran out of time trying to intentionally foul to get into the penalty situation.

Monton led the way for UV with 20 points while Gabunada finished with eight.

Passerelle team falters

UV’s Passerelle squad wasn’t as fortunate as they fell to Bacolod Tay Tung High School, 52-56.

UV had a clear shot at bringing home a double-crown as it tied the match at 49-all with exactly two minutes remaining in the hotly contested game.

But Tay Tung’s Fritz Valencia and Andy Villamer put the team up, 54-49, after a bucket and an and-one play.

UV cut the deficit to two, 52-54, but Tay Tung’s Joseph Palaganas put the game and the title out of reach with a pull-up jumper with just 17 ticks remaining.

The national finals will be on Dec. 3 and 4 in Bacolod City.