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 a  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  worked extra hard unlike the  Bacolod-based St. John,which  dominated the match to  remain the only unbeaten squads in the  12-teams inaugural edition of the under-16 league grassroots  program under the aegis of SBP  aims to discover young potential 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-based team St. Agnes Academy its third successive defeat, 115-57, becoming the first  team to hit the century mark  and St. Louis completed a humiliation of the Bicolanos by clobbering Naga-based Universidad  de  Sta  Isabel, 52-40.

The win pushed  UV and LUCNAS, the La union-based squad, at 2-1 records, ahead of ISBB  and Holy  Child at 1-2 cards in the tournament supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Energen Nutritious Milk and Cereal Drink, Philex Mining, Summit Natural Water, and Molten.

Trailing 46-50 entering the final  period, St. Bridget outscored UB in the final canto after trailing most of the way to clinch  its first  win in three appearances and  handed  the host team its third straight defeat.

It was a sorry loss for UB, which dominated the first three quarters only  to fold up in the final period, where 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, Carandang six and  Ramos seven of  St. Bridget 29  production   in   the  final period.

Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. welcome the 17 participating teams from  different  regions and at the same time thank the  organizers Samahang   Basketbol ng  Pilipinas choosing   Baguio as site of the inaugural  competition of  the under-16  tournament during the opening ceremonies.

He said city government has passed a resolution  declaring 2012 as  SBP   under-16 basketball week in Baguio.

“We worked  hard  and consolidated  our  efforts to make sure all the participating teams, their coaches, officials  and parents of the players have fond memories once they return  home to their provinces,” he said.

“Alam ko lahat kayo gustong mag-champion. I challenge you all to play the game fair and square which  is the spirit of basketball. Hindi nakukuha sa laki at tangkad  ng players ang panalo kundi respect ng kapwa players,” he added.