THE UNIVERSITY of the Visayas (UV) got stopped dead in its tracks by the mighty defending champions La Salle Greenhills, 39-55, in the SBP division championship game of the Milo-backed SBP-Passerelle Twin Tournament National Finals yesterday at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.
UV was down by just two after the first period but suddenly went cold and stared at a 19-36 deficit at halftime, no thanks to a relentless full-court pressure defense that was employed by the boys from La Salle, which kept the Cebuanos on their heels from that point onwards.
Sean Salarza led the way for UV with 12 markers but the rest of his teammates struggled to find their mark. Mike Monton and Daniel Padilla had just six each, Franc Gabunada managed just four while Mart Tigmo chipped in just two.
Ethan Alian led La Salle with 10, eight coming that pivotal second period stretch that decided the game’s outcome.
Javi Jugo added eight while four others had at least six in a show of balanced force by La Salle.
In the Passerelle division, Adamson kept its crown with a 70-61 win in overtime over the hosts Bacolod Tay Tung.
Ranged against the taller, more athletic Adamson, Tay Tung hung tough and rallied from a 55-60 deficit to tie the game at 60-all to force the extra session.
But overtime was all Adamson as three straight triples from Jeffy Mailin and Nicole Quinal pushed them ahead, 69-60.
Mailin paced Adamson with 13 markers while Quinal and Ahmad Hanapi pitched in 11 each.