An Erco booter soars for the ball in a game against the Maria Montessori International School in this bit of Thirsty Fooball Cup action. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
Former national champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles added another trophy to their impressive collection as they crushed the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors, 91-76, to hoist the championship in the Cebu leg of the 2014 Seaoil National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Elite League last Sunday afternoon at the Capitol Parish gym.
While it was power forward Jan Jaboneta who took care of the scoring cudgels, totaling 25 points, it was the Eagles’ cohesive offense that spelled the difference as 11 different players scored in a pivotal second-period surge that gave them a 51-37 halftime lead.
The Eagles were ahead by five, 22-17, after the initial 10 minutes of action when Steven Co kickstarted the run with two three pointers.
From then on, the Eagles were able to remain ahead and put a stamp on the win in the final canto, where Jaboneta tallied 10 markers.
Arnie Padilla, a member of the Philippine under-16 squad, added 19 points. Jaboneta was eventually named as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Scott Aying paced USC with 16 points while Paul Galinato added 14.
Both the Eagles and the Baby Warriors will be competing against the best high school teams in the land in the league’s national finals which start on March 6.
In Division 2 action, the San Isidro Parish School nabbed the title with a convincing 69-58 win over the St. Louis College Cebu.
Meanwhile, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu stalwart Arnie Padilla earned an impressive distinction as he was selected to participate in the NBTC National High School All-Star Game slated March 9 at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.