BACOLOD City – Team Khalifa took down University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguar Cubs, 75-54, to rule the 2025 Smart-NBTC Visayas Regional Championship held recently at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School Gym here.
The defending champions Team Khalifa left little to doubt, starting off with a blazing 25-6 first quarter assault and never looked back as it stretched the lead to its biggest at 32 points in the second half.
Lloyd Amadeo Gutang finished with 10 points, six boards, four steals, and two assists, Jerome Arboiz chipped in 10 points and four rebounds, and Jay Ver Palco got 10 points and two boards for Team Khalifa.
Mythical Team member Johncel Borjal willingly took the backseat and only registered nine points and six rebounds in 20 minutes of play in the finale which capped off the Team Khalifa’s perfect 7-0 campaign.
Kyle Matthew Barrieta, meanwhile, emerged as the lone bright spot for USJ-R with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds to go with two assists in the defeat.
Aside from the crown, the finalists have already secured their slots in the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
John Loyd Martinez also turned heads and snared the Regional Most Outstanding Player honors after powering El Tzino/Davies in the Regional Wildcard phase and into the Nationals.
The San Enrique, Negros Occidental-native Martinez became the first player to win the top individual award to not come from a champion team following his consistent performance for El Tzino.
Martinez tallied 18 points, eight rebounds, six steals, and five assists in El Tzino’s 69-57 victory over Bleachers Roadstar Transit of South Negros.
Meanwhile, University of Southern Philippines Foundation delivered a 70-60 drubbing of City of Talisay-Notre Dame in the other Regional Wildcard. Fritz John Gonzales drilled 20 points for the winning team./PN
