La Salle Green Hills-Team A thumped Ateneo De Manila University, 64-44, on Sunday to annex its fourth straight title in the 33rd Season of the Small Basketeers Philippines-Passerelle Twin Tournament at the Colegio San Agustin Gymnasium in Makati.
Andre Mikael Minas scattered a game-high 13 points, while Joaquin Alessandro Torres also had nine markers for the Greenies.
LSGH-Team A wound up with a perfect 4-0 card in the eliminations and clobbered De La Salle Santiago Zobel-Team A, 49-33, in their semifinal tussle last Sept. 9 to forge a title match with the Blue Eaglets in the tourney sponsored by Milo and supported by Rain or Shine and Chris Sports.
With the runaway victory, the Greenies advanced to the SBP-Passerelle Twin Tournament National Finals set early December in Pampanga.
In the Passerelle division final, Nazareth School of National University proved untouchable in ruling the tourney with a 74-57 whipping of La Salle Green Hills-Team A.
Kenji Duremdes, Reinhard Jumanoy, and Poul Justin Palacielo scored 12 points apiece for the Bullpups, who went unscathed in the elims with a 5-0 record before ripping Ateneo De Manila University 68-51 in their semifinal duel also last Sept. 9 to arrange a championship game with the Greenies.
With Duremdes, son of PBA legend Kenneth, Jumanoy, and Palacielo leading the way, NSNU zoomed to a fast start and took a 41-26 spread at the half.
A Javiel Luis Jugo three-pointer pulled LSGH-Team A to within 30-41 at the 8:44 mark of the third canto but the Bullpups still enjoyed a 65-46 lead going into the payoff period.
NSNU never looked back from there en route to its first-ever crown and advanced to the National Finals.
Mark Kenshin Padrones carried the fight for the Greenies with 11 points while Jan Clement Macalalag added 10.
In the SBP division, Minas bagged the MVP plum while DLSZ-Team A and Claret School of Quezon City finished third and fourth, respectively. MARIST School took home the Sportsmanship award.
Jumanoy was adjudged MVP of the Passerelle division while San Beda University and Ateneo De Manila University finished third and fourth, respectively.
The Bullpups were also the recipient of the Sportsmanship award in the Passerelle.”‹