CEBU, Philippines — The three-time defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles aim for a historic four-peat while the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars brace for a tough mission as they kick off their best-of-three juniors division finals in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 basketball tournament today (Wednesday, December 4) at the Cebu Coliseum.
Game time is set at 6 p.m., with the Magis Eagles training their sights on becoming the first ever high school team to capture four consecutive crowns in CESAFI’s 24-year history.
If they achieve that, the Magis Eagles will also claim the honor as the most winningest juniors team in the league, a record they currently share with the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers with seven championship trophies apiece.
Standing in their way are the Baby Jaguars, who handed the Magis Eagles their first and only loss so far this season via a 62-40 demolition last September 28.
That’s an extra challenge for the Ateneo Hearters in their quest for greater glory.
“Obviously the Baby Jaguars are a very tough team. They already beat us this season. They will surely play their hearts out and with a lot of energy,” said Magis Eagles head coach Rommel Rasmo as he heads to a battle of wits against his former player Julius Cadavis who is now the chief strategist of USJ-R.
“We are proud of him. He is doing good and he is in good hands,” Rasmo said of Cadavis. “As for us, we just need to stick to our system and play with poise for us to have a chance to win. I expect the series to be very competitive. Hopefully, luck will also be on our side.”
It will surely be an exciting series as the Baby Jaguars are determined to end their 22-year title drought. The last time they savored the sweet nectar of success was way back in 2002.
Before the Magis Eagles and the Baby Jaguars take on each other, the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons and the UV Baby Lancers will settle their unfinished business once and for all in the rubber match of their best-of-three duel for supremacy in the Under 15 category at 5 p.m.
The winner will etch their name in stone as the first ever U15 champions of Cebu’s premiere inter-school athletic league. — (FREEMAN)