By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The 4th Acster Cup Pasalamat sa Pag-asenso 2025 continues to showcase grassroots basketball talent, with several teams emerging as dominant forces in their respective divisions ahead of the crossover knockout quarterfinals set for June 7 and 8.
In the 11-and-under division, Kenn/Scorpion and Bacolod Tay Tung High School (BTTHS) – Willtrade topped their respective brackets with an undefeated 5-0 record.
Joining them in the quarterfinals are the SP Warriors (4-1), St. John’s Institute (3-2), the Yope Meerkats (3-1), the Negros Youth Basketball Club (NYBC) (2-3), St. Sebastian International School (SSIS) (2-2), and the Talisay Sharks (1-3).
The 13-and-under category saw the Bobcats and BTTHS dominate with unbeaten records of 5-0 and 4-0, respectively, to lead their brackets.
Scorpion/Kenn (4-1), SSIS (3-2), Meerkats (2-3), Bound Dirt (3-1), the Warriors (2-3), and NYBC (1-3) also advanced to the quarterfinals.
In the 15-and-under division, the Bobcats led Bracket A with a clean 5-0 slate.
The RGG Farms emerged on top of Bracket B after a triple tie with BTTHS and St. Joseph School–La Salle SP Lineage, finishing with a 5-1 record.
Advancing to the next round are NYBC (3-3), Pitfalls (4-1), Bacolod Trinity Christian School (3-2), and SSIS (2-3).
For the 18-and-under division, BTTHS and Kap Odol led their brackets with an identical 4-0 record.
Other quarterfinalists include the Bobcats (3-1), Notre Dame Talisay (2-2), St. John’s Institute (1-3), Distrito Roofing (3-1), SSIS (2-2), and the Spartans (1-3).
The tournament resumes with crossover knockout quarterfinals on June 7 and 8, 2025, at two key venues, Willy and Nolita Au Court and Bacolod Tay Tung High School Covered Court.
Winning teams in each division will receive trophies and cash prizes as follows: champion: P50,000; 1st runner-up: P30,000; 2nd runner-up: P15,000; and 3rd runner-up: P10,000.
The Acster Cup continues to be a breeding ground for young basketball talent in Negros, powered by Acster Marketing Basketball Cup headed by Jomarie Panisales in partnership with the United Negros Basketball League./ASC, WDJ