By Edri K. Aznar (Sunstar)
Monday, December 15, 2014


IF at first you don’t succeed, try again. And in the University of the Visayas’ second attempt at a national Passerelle division crown, they finally succeeded.

Just in its infancy in the Passerelle division basketball program that started four years ago, UV proved that they still have one of the best basketball programs in the country after winning the national Passerelle division crown of the Milo Best SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament National Finals yesterday at the Magis Eagles Arena of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.

“In 2012, we were beaten by De La Salle (Greenhills). This is our second national finals and our first time as national champions,” UV Passerelle team head coach Jaymar Canoy told Sun.Star Cebu.

UV didn’t let this opportunity slip through their hands like what happened to them in Roxas City two years ago. The Baby Green Lancers outclassed Holy Child School of Davao (HSCD) from start to finish, beating the visitors 65-46.

“God gave us the opportunity and the talent and so we offer this victory to him,” said Canoy, whose UV team in 2012 lost to De La Salle Greehills, 83-77.

“They gave their 100 percent and shared the basketball. We are going to rest and enjoy the Christmas season.”

Though losing to HCSD, 41-55, earlier in the day in their last elimination game, UV came out swinging, outscoring the Mindanao champions 19-9. Denzel Sabroso was scorching hot in the second quarter and sank three triples to help give UV a wide 15-point lead, 35-20.

In the third, the scoring pace slowed down but UV had stifling defense and just held HCSD to just six quarter points against UV’s 13. UV was up 22 going into the final frame.

HCSD started to rally in the fourth quarter after Allan Beltran barreled his way in down low. HCSD trimmed down the lead to 19 points with a 6-0 lead from back-to-back buckets by Beltran and a fastbreak layup by Aaron Royo. However, UV managed to keep the huge lead and finish strong.

Sabroso led UV with 12 points, while James Zenarosa and Kint Ariar added eight points each. Royo led HCSD with 12, while Beltran and Winderlich Coyoca contributed with nine and eight points respectively.

UV’s campaign started on a high note with a one-sided 64-40 beating of defending Paserelle division national champions Chiang Kai Shek College (CKSC) in the opening day, which was a huge confidence booster.

CKSC settled for third place with a 61-35 victory over Holy Angel University of Pampanga.