The University of the Visayas (UV) dealt the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) their first loss in the SBP class of the Milo-backed BEST Tournament, 42-36, in a game that was held over the weekend at the Ateneo de Cebu basketball courts along Mango Avenue in Cebu City.
UV appeared to be headed towards an easy win as it led by nine, 29-38, heading to the final frame after Kerk Navarro and Sean Salarza spearheaded a 21-8 third-period run capped by a teardrop by the latter with 25 seconds remaining.
But Ateneo de Cebu was not yet done as it pulled to within two, 36-38, after a furious comeback led by Uriel Avila.
UV kept its composure and sealed the deal with Christian Alilin scoring a runner from the left wing that gave the Baby Lancers a 40-36 lead, with 1:14 to go.
Navarro led UV with nine points while Alilin and Salarza added eight apiece. More importantly, UV improved to 2-1 (win-loss), good for second place behind the unbeaten University of San Carlos, which sports a 3-0 record.
SHS-AdC fell to an even 1-1.
In the other game held at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) gym in Basak, the host team eked past Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) team, 32-31.
Sebastian Bacus scored 12 of his 16 points in a huge third period rally that sparked the win.
The victory was USJ-R’s first this season in three games while DBTC fell to its third loss in a row.