SBC Forum, SWU, CIC, UV under pressure to secure playoff berths

BANILAD TOWN CENTRE, Cebu City (19 August 2011) — Four schools may lead in the standings at 12-under but they bear the pressure to secure a playoff berth as the 3rd BTC Cup enters the final weekend of elimination games.

Most pressure will be on Sotero B. Cabahug (SBC) Forum for Literacy – Team B and Southwestern University (SWU) when they encounter in their 3-on-3 basketball game here at BTC tomorrow morning.

The two others are Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC) and the University of the Visayas (UV) whose 3-0 and 4-0 win-loss cards, respectively in Divisions B and C, are not guarantees but only an advantage for each team.

As SBC Forum 2 and SWU hold identical 3-0 win-loss card in Division A, the winning team will gain the needed confidence in dealing after their last assignment in the league organized with Thirsty, Dimsum Break and Nike.

On the side, the PAREF Springdale School – Team B Titans would wish for a loss by SWU to give them a better chance to grab the playoff slot when the Titans meet the Cobras by Sunday.

But that will only be possible if Bright Academy will not spoil the quest of the team that last year’s 10-under MVP Giles Nathan Benedicto leads.

Knockout

Meanwhile, CIC will need to knockout Springdale-C first on Saturday to gain advantage as they deal by Sunday with St. John of Kenty mentored by former Consolacion Mayor Camilo Go in this series Robinson’s Supermarket backs.

The CIC boys of coach Frankie Lastimoso hold a 3-0 record, while the Kenty shooters hold a 2-1 card that they can improve if Springdale-C will not spoil their quest after.

Sacred Heart School (SHS) Ateneo de Cebu – Team A and Centre for International Education (CIE) – Team B will need to win their last games this weekend and hope CIC would lose twice and St. John once.

Should the scenario with the current two top-seeds happen, winning separately against Springdale-C and St. Paul Learning Center – Team B means the chance for the playoff by quotient score.

In Division C, the young Lancers of coach Jay Mar Canoy have the edge at 4-0 but will need to win against SBC-Team C and San Isidro Parish School tomorrow.

Even with just one loss, UV is secured for the playoff having beaten SHS-Ateneo-B and Springdale-A last week in the tournament sponsored by Cherifer Growth Vitamins.

A loss by UV in both games will give the Magis Eagles and the Titans the last hope for the playoff if they defeat their last two assignments in the eliminations.

The Atenean players of coach Ricardo Tan Jr. and the Titans of coach Mark Cabacaba will have to commonly deal first with SBC Forum-A of coach Ain Latonio who is bent not to see his boys become sacrificial lambs.

If fate would come their way, the long-time rivals in the BTC Cup will square off by Sunday for a do-or-die match, again only if the Lancers will lose in their last two games.

Spoilers

Meanwhile, in the 10-under category, Team A of the SPLC Paladins and SHS-Ateneo-B have secured their playoff tickets in the league supported by Nature Spring and Holy Kettle Corn.

But the young knights of coach Norwin Honoridez will need to secure its place on top with wins against winless but possible spoilers SHS-Ateneo-A and Springdale.

The last two slots are still up for grabs between Team B of SPLC Paladin Knights, the SIPS Isidorian Tamaraws of coach Virgilio “Virgo” Godinez and the Philippine Christian Gospel School (PCGS) Blue Lions of coach Jason Velez.

The BTC Cup continued on its third year with the support also of Optical Adult & Child, the primary distributor of sunglasses made by Lacoste, Oakley, Tag Heuer, Giordano, Levi’s and Silhouette.