Xavier dribblers dethrone nat’l champion LSGH in NCR finals

National champion La Salle Green Hills surrendered its bid for a “four-peat” when it bowed to Xavier School in the National Capital Region finals of the SBP-Passerelle Twin Tournament at Pasig City Sports Complex recently.

Xavier stunned three-time winner LSGH, 51-47, in the SBP match for players 9 to 11 years old, even as reigning national champion Chiang Kai Shek College defended its crown in the Passerelle (12-14) final with a 61-55 win over San Beda.

Xavier’s Darren Gabriel Sytia and CKSC’s Dominique Ansis Cuevas won Most Valuable Player honors in their respective categories.

Marist School in SBP and Ateneo Team A in Pasaserelle bagged the Sportsmanship Awards.

Xavier and CKSC will represent NCR in the national championships slated Dec. 12 to 14 at Magis Eagles Arena of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in Cebu City. They will vie for the title against regional champions from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The other SBP-Passerelle regional finals are scheduled Oct. 17 to 20 at University of the Assumption in San Fernando City, Pampanga, for Luzon, Nov. 7 to 10 at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro for Mindanao, and Nov. 21 to 24 at Capiz Gym in Roxas City for Visayas.

The twin SBP-Passerelle tournament has assembled 600 of the country’s most promising cagers, the majority of whom attended the basketball clinics organized by the Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training (BEST) Center nationwide, sponsored by Milo and supported by Chris Sports.