PCGS, UV rule the playoffs; as SACS, SPLC also enter finals

PCGS Blue Lions' Aldred Du cuts through the flying defense of UV Lancers' Mark Gerard Malagar.

BANILAD TOWN CENTRE Cebu City (27 August 2011, 1400H) — Philippine Christian Gospel School (PCGS) played with class in two divisions, while University of the Visayas (UV) dominated the games at 16-under to emerge victorious in the playoffs of the 3rd BTC Cup today.

St. Alphonsus Catholic School (SACS) also maximized its twice-to-beat advantage at 14-under, while the two teams of St. Paul Learning Center (SPLC) did the same here at 10-under as they had their finals tickets stamped for good.

12-under

Meanwhile, Sotero B. Cabahug (SBC) Forum for Literacy and Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC) conquered the UV Baby Lancers at 12-under and will meet today for the finals in this 3-on-3 series presented by Thirsty and Dimsum Break.

UV Lancers' Gyle Patrick Montaño tries to cut through the defense of SBC Forum's Alexander Matthieu Cortes.

The younger UV squad first bowed to SBC Forum, 3-4, after losing pointman Lyder Kent Canieso on foul, then to CIC Blue Angels, 8-11, after losing steam in overtime.

Ram Denzylle Pepito carried the Forums in overpowering the Lancers, even silencing gunman Canieso, as well as the Blue Angels scoring 5 total points in their 3-team one-round robin playoff.

While also silenced by the Forums and the Lancers during regulation, Blue Angels skipper Christopher Go stepped up during the 3-minute extension, scoring three crucial points as wingman Kelvin Demura matched the only 2 points the Lancers made.

16-under

UV Lancers' Shawn Vincent Opolentisima drives past CIE Lions' Michael Cavan during their 16-under quarterfinal encounter.

It was a different story for the 16-under Junior Lancers as they swept all its three 1-round quarterfinal and the key semi-final games with Shawn Vincent Opolentisima (left) bombarding 19 total points.

Opolentisima stepped up in the playoff, scoring 4 points in defeating San Isidro Parish School (SIPS), 9-5, then 6 marks in blocking PCGS, 10-6, and 3 hits in choking Centre for International Education, 7-6.

PCGS Blue Lions Aldred Du (#21) jumps for a goal despite all the three CIE Lions defending.

In the semi-finals as top-seed, Opolentisima fired 6 hits in the Lancers’ massacre of the 4th-seed CIE Blue Lions, 9-2, in the tournament backed by Nike Athletic Club, Robinson’s Supermarket and Nature Spring.

PCGS first edged CIE, 6-4, then SIPS, 10-8, in a heart-stopping overtime with Aldred Du (right) orchestrating the game, scoring 5 during regulation that ended 7-all, and adding two during the extension.

SIPS Tamaraws' Vince Bryan Cena moves for a drive after a screen by teammate Mark Joseph Laurente with PCGS Blue Lions' Myko Alvarez chasing him.

In a rematch during the semi-finals with the PCGS Blue Lions earning the twice-to-beat advantage, Jean Ray Tejam took charge in overwhelming the SIPS Tamaraws, 10-6, scoring back-to-back hits from beyond the arc plus yet another goal.

Vince Bryan Cena (left) led the last gallant stand of the Isidorians scoring 17 the whole day, including three jumpers and a desperate 2-pointer, but not enough to keep a SIPS team in the finals in their second year in the league.

SACS Eagles' Ian Renz Singculan drives past CIC Blue Angels' Steven Clien Maga.

In the 14-under category, SACS and PCGS made good use of their advantage casually overwhelming their crossover challengers to arrange a finals match against each other in the league sponsored by Cherifer Growth Vitamins.

The Alphonsian Eagles were just too much for the CIC Blue Angels to handle as the SACS squad sucked out the energy of the CIC team, 10-6, with its big man Joshua Grijaldo banging 6 marks from the low post.

As the Eagles limited hitman Paul Christian Go to only two points, Steven Clien Maga (above, right) took charge of the Blue Angels but managed only two lay-ups and a shot from beyond the arc.

PCGS Blue Lions' Karl Greyson Le tries to cut through the defense of SIPS Tamaraws' Julius Tanjay.

PCGS played as a team of equals as the Blue Lions edged the SIPS Tamaraws, 7-6, with their play anchored on Karl Greyson Le (left) who made three points from the low post, while Jayzon Sy pitched it with 2 hits plus a point each from Dustin Philip Yao and Anthony James Limchesing.

10-under

The SPLC Paladins showed why they are today’s Marines of the medieval Charlemaigne court as their two squads limited the playoff to just one game each, ridding out their challengers.

SIPS Tamaraws' Sean Victor Vargas (center) positions to pass the ball to teammate Miles David Lubid (left) following a screen by Andrew Justine Man against SPLC Paladins' Ray Orville Ybañez.

Joshua  Balankig and Ray Orville Ybañez played back-to-back again with two points each as their team denied any chance for the younger Tamaraws, 4-2, as Vic Varges (right) and Andrew Man scored just a point each.

And so did Ian Miguel Abella and Prince Evan Sollano as they butted out the last team from Sacred Heart School (SHS) Ateneo de Cebu that only had Neal Anthony Peteros scoring two points.

UV Lancers' Mark Gerard Malagar drives past CIE Lions' Miggy Uy during their 16-under semi-final encounter.

The back-to-back wins of the two SPLC teams resulted in a sibling rivalry from a band of brothers in the 10-under finals made possible by Holy Kettle Corn and Tutoring Club.

Coach Norwin Honoridez told his boys to play for the best today like playing against the toughest team they will have.

Observers are curious if it will be just a lax game or true do-or-die one.

The BTC Cup has reach its third year becoming now Cebu’s premier 3-on-3 basketball tournament with the support of Optical Adult & Child, distributor of Lacoste, Oakley, Tag Heuer, Giordano, Levi’s and Silhouette sunglasses.