Magis Eagles are Cesafi high school division’s basketball champion after sweeping CBSAA Trailblazers in finals
SHS-AdC Magis Eagles coaching staff and players pose at center court during the awarding of the Cesafi high school finals. | Glendale G. Rosal
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu hoisted its sixth Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) high school basketball title after sweeping the Best-of-Three Finals series against the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy (CBSAA), 80-60, in Game 2 on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, at the Cebu Coliseum.
With the sixth title in hand, the Magis Eagles are a title away from tying with the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Green Lancers as the winningest team in the Cesafi high school hoop wars, with the latter currently leading with seven titles.
“To be honest naman, sabi ko nga I’ve been here in Cesafi since 2009, di naman sa pagmamayabang, I don’t know ilang finals appearance na ako, but what I’ve learned is that sometimes you need to lose the battle to win a war. I really believe that we’re on our peak and it’s a perfect timing. So, I never doubt my players and the team and I know we’re going to get the title this season,” said the Magis Eagles head coach Rommel Rasmo.
(To be honest, I said that I’ve been here in Cesafi since 2009, modesty aside, I don’t know how many finals appearance I have been in, but what I’ve learned is that sometimes you need to lose the battle to win a war. I really believe that we’re on our peak and it’s a perfect timing. So, I never doubt my players and the team and I know we’re going to get the title this season.)
“Lahat yan very special pinaghirapan namin yan. Talagang we exert a lot of effort, and it’s all hard-earned championships,” he said.
(It is still very special because we worked for it. We really exert a lot of effort, and it’s all hard-earned championships.)
Jared Bahay is the MVP Finals. | Glendale G. Rosal
Eventual finals, “Most Valuable Player” Jared Bahay erupted for 22 points, while big man Jelomar Rota who has included in the “Mythical Five” awardees, dropped 15, and Michael Asoro added 12 for the Magis Eagles.
Jerome Arboiz, who was also included in the “Mythical Five,” scored 25 points fo the Trailblazers and was the only double-digit scorer for the entire team in Game 2.
This was after, one of its leading scorers Lance Sabroso had foul trouble in the first half.
The Magis Eagles didn’t give the Trailblazers a breather in their lopsided game. The Magis Eagles turned the four-point deficit, 10-14, into a one-point cushion to seal the first period, 17-16.
From then on, the Magis Eagles didn’t look back. Bahay initiated a 5-0 run to start the second period, stretching their lead to six, 22-16.
They unleashed an 18-9 run to cap off the first half with a 15-point cushion. 40-25.
In the second half, CBSAA had an early penalty, which worsened their situation. The Magis Eagles capitalized on the collapsed defense of CBSAA, which dealt with foul trouble.
From a 15-point cushion, the Magis Eagles stretched their lead to 30, 63-32, which was their game’s biggest lead.
They head into the final period with a 30-point lead, 71-41. The Magis Eagles only scored nine in the final period, while the Trailblazers tallied 19, but wasn’t enough to make up the huge deficit they needed to overcome.
“It feels great you know. We worked our asses in the past two years in the dorm. We were preparing for something, but we’re ready for something like this. It feels very great. That’s how I feel after all the sacrifices we’ve made,” Bahay said.
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