SHS-Ateneo rules NBTC Elite League

CEBU, Philippines - The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles are back-to-back champions again, this time after winning the Cebu leg of the Seaoil NBTC Elite League via a 2-0 sweep of the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons. The defending national champion ousted CEC, 97-75, in Game 2 last Sunday night at the City Sports Club Cebu gym.

Game 2 was a replica of the series opener with SHS-AdC taking the first half by a slim 51-45 margin. The Magis Eagles enjoyed leads of as many as 10 points and had the chance to put the game away in the second quarter, but the Dragons fought back tough to stay within range.

It all broke loose in the third quarter where the SHS-AdC defense limited CEC to only three field goals while racking up 19 points, courtesy of the combination Julius Cadavis, Mavii Suarez, Dave Yu and Patrick Go. Two consecutive triples by Jair Igna and Rendell Senining gave them a commanding 70-51 lead with 3:40 left in the third quarter.

CEC was never the same at this point and could only get as close as 14 points in the period. The Magis Eagles pushed to mount its biggest lead of 23 points, 88-65, to start the fourth period, and put the game beyond reach.

 Cadavis, a senior big man out of Tacloban City, led the Magis Eagles with 26 big points, and was later named as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player (MOP). He drew balanced support from the whole team with Suarez hustling his way to 14 points and Senining adding 12.

But while the two-game sweep highlighted the team’s offensive arsenal, SHS-AdC Coach Sai Bacalso was quick to point to defense as the major tool that got them the championship.

“Our defense won the championship for us as we managed to stop the other teams’ top players at the right time. We didn’t give up easy shots and challenged on every opportunity. The offense came as a bonus,” Bacalso said.

 With the win, SHS-AdC will represent Cebu and defend its championship at the national finals of the NBTC D-League which will be held in Manila from March 2 to 4. This will be the team’s second straight trip to the national finals although the competition will be tougher this year with the change of the age group cut-off, from players born 1995 last year (Under 16) to players born 1994 (Under 18) this year.

This also marks the second trip to a national finals tournament after it also won the CVIRAA in Bohol last December. The team will carry the CVIRAA colors at the Palarong Pambansa in May.

The scores

SHS-AdC (97) – Cadavis 26, Suarez 14, Senining 12, Ochea 9, Igna 8, Asilum 7, Yu 7, Go 5, Jaboneta 2, Tecson 2, Catan 2

CEC (75) – Sedillo 17, Alviso 15, Sumayang 9, Roxas 9, Caspe 7, Bauya 6, Yap 4, Berdera 3, Villarosa 2

Quarterscores: 32-24, 51-45, 80-63, 97-75 –with GGM