CEBU has crowned a new king, as USPF-Playtown Exclusive captured the 2026 Smart-NBTC Visayas Regional Championship presented by SM Supermalls after gutting out a thrilling 57-56 triumph over USJ-R in the final on Saturday at Tacloban City Convention Center.
Luke Brent Dy carried the torch for the Panthers with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while adidas Most Outstanding Player J Lord Pepito contributed 11 points, four boards, and three assists in the clincher.
But more than the individual performances, it's the overall poise of USPF-Playtown Exclusive which got it done, weathering the Jaguars' late rally even after Jyle Andrey Roa trimmed the lead down to a solitary point with 36 seconds to play.
USJ-R could not complete the fightback, fumbling on its late chances, with the most painful being a double-dribble violation on Jan Vince Oringo with 0.4 ticks left, a bummer on what was already a solid 11-point, 16-rebound performance.
Krstc Ryll da Silva also added 11 points and six rebounds for the Jaguars before being thrown out with 4:40 remaining for an unsportsmanlike foul, further depleting their side which already lost Mythical Team member Fritz John Gonzales to an ejection off of two technical fouls midway through the second period.
Joining Pepito and Gonzales in the Mythical Team are Aldwin Calumpang Yso of Don Bosco Greywolves (Dumaguete), Ken Cydey Gallaza of Oasis Ballers Academy (Eastern Samar), and Joebert John Pastias of Bleachers Roadstar Transit Batang Bago (Negros Occidental).
Cebu well-represented in Madness in MOA
Still, the Cebuano teams are heading to the National Finals from March 22 to 29 where they will play with the best teams in the Philippine national 19-under tournament which is supported by adidas, Foot Locker, Molten, Buffalo's Wings N Things, The Lighthouse Group, Pocari Sweat, Omni, Swish, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Also part of the Visayan delegation will be Don Bosco Greywolves and Oasis Ballers Academy, which earned their tickets through the regional wildcard.
Glenn Angana produced 28 points in the Dumaguete champions' rout of Bleachers Roadstar Transit Batang Bago, 83-70, while Sean Wilkinson Herbon's 16 points dragged the Eastern Samar titlists to a tight 65-60 overtime escape of MYMP of Bohol.
The last four provincial tickets will be up for grabs in the South Luzon Regional Championship from Feb. 26 to March 1 in Antipolo City.
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