MANILA – Western Visayas bagged the first runner-up honors in the Samahang Basketball Pilipinas Under-18 3X3 National Finals in Ermita, Manila.
The Ilonggo cagers – Ralph Bajon, Kenth Lindero, Wilmer Dalumpines, and Giann Paul Nahine – fell short in their campaign Sunday, losing to Region 4A in the finals 15-21.
Despite the defeat, head coach Rodel Camacho lauded the WV players for reaching all the way to the finals, being one of the unseeded teams in the two-day event notwithstanding.
“To be honest, no one was expecting us to reach this far in the tournament, so I am happy with what my players have shown,” Camacho told Panay News.
“Other teams may have taken us for granted,” he added. “They did not know that these four players are veterans and have represented our region in the Palarong Pambansa and other tournaments.”
WV opened its campaign on Saturday with a 16-12 victory over Region 4B before absorbing a 9-10 defeat to Region 2.
The Ilonggos bounced back with a victory over Region 11 early Sunday to reach the semifinals where it defeated Region 3, 20-10.
The Iloilo players – all students of Santa Clarita International School – ruled the SBP U-18 3X3 Regional Finals on April 15 at the Hua Siong Ledesco Gym in Iloilo City en route to the National Finals./PN
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