A championship series like no other

After going through four CESAFI high school basketball championship finals that were a mix of heart-breaking moments, a higher than usual level of physicality, taunting, trash-talking, loud-and-rowdy crowds (with a not a few going below the belt), this one was different. But we just can’t seem to pinpoint why. But it all suddenly cleared when the do-or-die Game 3 ended with Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu taking an 88-53 win over University of Cebu last week, giving the Magis Eagles its third straight CESAFI high school basketball championship. I’m not much of a movie-type fan, but this series was full of drama, a gut-wrenching “themed” conflict, and a happy win-win ending.

For starters, this one didn’t follow the pre-season script. Basketball fans were pointing to a fourth straight showdown between SHS-Ateneo and the University of the Visayas or a clash with University of San Carlos. UV won the title in 2011 before SHS-Ateneo returned the favor in 2012 and 2014. If UV couldn’t make it, it was supposed to be SHS-Ateneo vs. USC, a team that had undergone a rebuilding and had set its sights on a stint in the finals. Going under the radar was UC, a team that wasn’t seen in any of the pre-season tournaments or friendly games over the summer. Moreover, UC didn’t make it to the semifinals for the past three years. But when UC won over both UV and USC in the semifinals, people suddenly realized that they were for real. Remember that UC’s last championship was in 2008.

Then came the stunner in Game 1. UC dismantled everything about SHS-Ateneo’s being a clear favorite by taking a morale-boosting 73-63 win. UC unexpectedly took control of the game from midway of the second quarter and maintained its lead all the way to the end. Froilan Mangubat, Jason Abejo, Gelmart Umpad and Luigi Gabisan all scored in double digits. SHS-Ateneo couldn’t find an answer as UC did a great job of protecting the lead. The Magis Eagles lost its first game of the season and was in unfamiliar territory: on the brink. UC was suddenly one win away from a CESAFI championship. UC was now truly for real. Doubts and questions were thrown out the windows (of Cebu Coliseum). UC had peaked at the right moment of the tournament and people were now asking if SHS-Ateneo peaked too soon and was headed downhill. UC’s students rallied behind the team and the UC community was abuzz with basketball fever which wasn’t felt for the past eight years. Note that none of the current UC high school students were around when the last championship was won.

The great movies and real-life “hero” stories always have great conflicts to scale, don’t they? How can a movie have a happy ending without setbacks for the protagonists, right? This was the tone for Game 2. Faced with the possibility of losing its title, the Magis Eagles didn’t have a choice. They had to win the next game and force a rubber match/Game 3. And just like in any great movie, it was a steep uphill climb for the Magis Eagles before finally nailing Game 2, 63-53. The game was close for three quarters and UC took a two-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter, 41-39. They were ten minutes away from the championship. With UC still ahead, 47-46, SHS-Ateneo went to Eroll Pastor who lit up the scoreboard with 10 points to lead the Magis Eagles to the win a huge sigh of relief.

The stage was set for Game 3.  Game time was 3:00 p.m., but supporters flocked into the Cebu Coliseum as early as 2:00p.m. It was a wave of blue and white on one side and yellow and blue on the other. Both sides were well supported by a mix of students, teachers, parents and school heads. UC Chancellor Candice Gotianuy had her spot on the stage close to the UC bench, while SHS-Ateneo President Fr. Manny Uy, S.J. also sat close to the Magis Eagles bench. They had a short friendly chat before the game and another one before the game ended. Was rivalry the theme of their chat? Far from it. It was all smiles, kudos and praises for both sides. The drums were there; cheering was loud and surprisingly “tame,” sans the vulgarity, taunting and below the belt words thrown at players and opposing fans. It was a friendly atmosphere of “clean” cheering on both sides. SHS-Ateneo won convincingly, 88-53, finally showing the power that gave them the tag as pre-season favorites. The game itself was a formality of the crowning of a champion. But Game 3 wasn’t about Game 3 per se. What happened after the game illustrated what the whole series was all about. In a usual scenario, one would’ve seen a lot of tears, bitter stares and a lingering feeling of “dislike” between both sides. But in an off-the-script scenario, it was all smiles on both sides. Both sides shook hands and hugs. Both sides posed for pictures with each other. Did you see the picture of both coaches on Facebook? Fr. Manny and the SHS-Ateneo parents/supporters group joined the UC team for a picture that has also hit Facebook. UC players and supporters also had pictures taken with SHS-AdC players. The classic pic was that of SHS-AdC point guard Travis Mantua’s father Jerry (who flew in from Australia), lifting UC’s 4’10 wonder Gelmart Umpad (again also on Facebook) in a sign of respect and admiration.

What was this all about? To an ordinary fan, this shouldn’t make any sense. My esteemed colleague Mike Limpag hit it right on the button when he described the series of sportsmanship, fair play and no rough play, “The record shows that in the 2015 CESAFI high school championship, Ateneo won the gold and UC won the silver medal but for me, both teams won something greater. Respect.”

Fr. Manny best summed it up, “Cheers to both our Magis Eagles and the University of Cebu Baby Webmasters for upholding the CESAFI principles of Character, Camaraderie and Sportsmanship. Nurturing champions (athletes, coaching staff including parents and supporters) with character matters more.”

Truly a championship series like no other.