Khalifa-USJ-R rules NBTC Visayas meet

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CEBU’S Khalifa-University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) came away victors in the most competitive NBTC Regional Championship (RC) thus far.

Yet again going with the total team effort that fueled their perfect run, the Jaguars bested St. Roberts International College (SRIC)-Elite Lab of Iloilo 62-57 in the final of the 2024 NBTC Visayas RC, Sunday at Willy, and Nolita Au Court inside Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

Trailing by double-digits early on, the entry of Peter John Peteros energized Khalifa-USJ-R in the second quarter tear that put them on top, 32-29, at halftime. He was then backstopped by John Nethan Dela Torre as they increased their lead to nine, 53-44 entering the final frame.

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SRIC-Elite Lab neared to within one, 52-53, inside the last five minutes before Jan Vince Oring’s timely triple ignited Khalifa-USJ-R’s 10-4 blast to clinch the championship.

Behind Most Outstanding Player (MOP) Peteros, the Jaguars went undefeated, including gutsy triumphs over regional powerhouses STI West Negros University Nzane and Trinity-Davies Paint/El Tzino. Under the tutelage of veteran mentor Melo Banua, they counted six players contributing at least seven points per game throughout the tournament.

MOP contender Justin Cargo and SRIC-Elite Lab settled for silver, while UNBL-Don Bosco of Dumaguete bagged bronze by virtue of a stronger win-loss record than fourth-place Trinity-Davies of Central Negros.

The Visayas RC Final Four now turn their attention to the 2024 Smart-NBTC National Finals presented by SM Supermalls from March 18-24 at SM Mall of Asia Arena. There, they will be joined by four more qualifiers from the upcoming South Luzon RC; the UAAP and NCAA’s finalists; 10 squads from the NBTC’s Global Partners in USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand; and two more wildcard teams who will all duke it out in the Philippine under-19 basketball championship.

“Our Visayas RC was a rousing success, from the competitive games to the amazing young talent that we all got to watch. All of it wouldn’t have been possible if not for the all-out support of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, Gov. Bong Lacson and head of provincial sports Tony Agustin, and generous sponsors Wilford Sy and Rowela Alacapa,” said NBTC program director Eric Altamirano.

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