It was déjà vu all over again for the University of San Carlos (USC) and certainly not of the flattering kind.
In what can only be considered a troubling replay of their meltdown in the Passerelle finals, the mighty USC Baby Warriors fell prey to the hungrier University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, who stunned the overwhelming favorites, 66-64, in double overtime to claim the championship in the SBP class of the Milo-backed BEST Center Tournament yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Institute.
Christian Alilin led UV with 16 points, and made a critical reverse lay-up in overtime that completed UV’s comeback from a six-point deficit with less than minute remaining. Matteus Omamalin also came up big as he chipped in 13 to help UV get its first SBP title in league history and earn the right to represent Cebu in the Milo BEST Regional Finals slated this November in Bacolod.
For USC, it was the same script that befell its Passerelle squad, which also came in as the favorite to win it all but came up short against Ateneo de Cebu during their finals showdown a few weeks back.
UV started out hot and led, 27-18, at halftime but USC came roaring back to take the lead, 44-42, after a Nicael Cabanero basket with six seconds remaining.
UV did not flinch and sent the game to overtime with a Karl Cua putback with one second left in regulation.
USC actually had the inside track on the title in the next overtime as it led, 52-46, with 56 seconds on the clock. UV trimmed the deficit to four after free throws by Alilin and Omamalin with 10 seconds remaining.
Then the unthinkable happened as UV guard Dirk Baguio stole the inbounds pass and scored on a difficult lay-up while getting fouled with three ticks left. Baguio missed the bonus free throw but Alilin chased down the loose ball and put it back in to tie the game up once again and send it to a second overtime.
With momentum now on its side, UV surged ahead, 63-57, but not for long as Reinhard Jumamoy knotted the count at 63-all with consecutive triples.
Cabanero then gave USC back the lead with a free throw but UV countered with a lay-up from Franc Gabunada to grab the upper hand with 33 seconds left. Moments later, he added a free throw to lock down the exciting victory.
Jumamoy and Cabanero had 15 and 13 points, respectively, for USC.
In the game for third place, Ateneo de Cebu trashed the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), 55-33.
Uriel Avila led the Magis Eagles with 12 while Joseph Dytian added 10. Sebastian Bacus poured in 18 points for USJ-R.