BAGUIO CITY—Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori outlasted International School for Better Beginnings, 89-85, and St. John Institute defeated St. Clare, 83-71, Tuesday to share the lead with perfect 3-0 cards in the 2012 Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas National under-16 at the Eastern College Incorporated gym.
The Cagayan de Oro-based Sacred Heart and Bacolod’s St. John are the only unbeaten squads in the 12-team inaugural edition of the under-16 league grassroots program that the SBP hopes will discover young talents.
University of Visayas demolished Holy Child School, 81-68, at ECI gym and St. Bridget College shamed host University of Baguio, 75-60, at the UB gym.
La Union College of Nursing and Arts handed Albay’s St. Agnes Academy its third successive defeat, 115-57 and St. Louis clobbered Naga-based Universidad de Sta. Isabel, 52-40.
The win pushed UV and LUCNAS to 2-1 records, ahead of ISBB and Holy Child, which both tote 1-2 cards in the tournament supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Energen Nutritious Milk and Cereal Drink, Philex Mining, Summit and Molten.
Trailing 46-50 entering the final period, St. Bridget outscored UB in the final canto to clinch its first win in three appearances and handed the host team its third straight defeat.
St. Bridget outgunned the Baguio boys sparked by the deadly troika of Ronniel Zyron Bausas, Ralph Haroki Ramos and six-foot John Paolo Carandang.
Bausas scored 14 of his game high 21 points in that period, with Carandang adding six and Ramos seven there.
Hostilities shift to nearby Benguet with five games on tap at the Cordillera Career Development College court and two matches at Eastern College Inc. gym.
St. Bridget and ISBB clash in the 9 a.m. opener, followed by the girls’ encounter between St. Louis and winless JDV at 10 a.m. St. Clare tangles St. Clare battles LUCNAS at 11:30 a.m. and UST faces Sacred Heart at 1:30 p.m. St. Clare faces University of St. Louis at 3 p.m.