Cesafi: Magis Eagles coach Rasmo vows to bounce back, UV confident of dethroning SHS-AdC

IT WILL BE A DOGFIGHT: SHS-AdC Magis Eagles head coach Rommel Rasmo and UV Baby Lancers bench tactician Delfin ‘Jun’ Pepito Jr. 

CEBU CITY, Philippines— With their title on the line, SHS-AdC Magis Eagles head coach, Rommel Rasmo rallies his wards to avenge their Game 1 finals loss to the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Green Lancers in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) high school basketball finals.

The Magis Eagles will try to force a rubber match and prevent a repeat of their 2017 sweep against their old rivals in tomorrow’s Game 2 set at 5:15 p.m. at the Cebu Coliseum.

In an interview with CDN Digital, Rasmo vowed that they will showcase what the true “Magis Eagles basketball” is. 

READ: UV outplays SHS-AdC, takes game one of Cesafi high school finals

“Unang-una, I have to give it to UV, I commend them, they really outplayed us and outhustled us, I just want to let our players to understand that it takes two wins to win the championship,” said Rasmo. 

“I think everybody would agree naman that we were really outhustled, they showed what UV basketball was all about. So kami, I believe Game 2, we will show them the Magis Eagles basketball. I just have to encourage the players that we have to play our game. Ganina ang nakita nato ang UV basketball. We will make sure in Game 2, we will play our Magis Eagles basketball.”

Rasmo reiterated that they’ve been in this kind of situation throughout this season. They’ve opened their season with a blowout loss to the USJ-R Baby Jaguars and bowed down to the CEC Dragons in one of their last remaining elimination round games.

They also lost to the UCLM Webmasters in the semifinals.

However, the Magis Eagles somehow managed to find their way back, and that Rasmo believes they can also do this time.

“We’ve been in this situation for many times, just like the semifinals. I believe everything happens for a reason, and we will make sure that we bounce back,” added Rasmo.

READ: Magis Eagles survive UCLM in do-or-die semifinals, barge into Cesafi high school finals 

NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY

Meanwhile, Delfin ‘Jun’ Pepito Jr. who steered UV to many Cesafi high school titles is confident his team will win the series, that is, if they can show the same intensity they’ve displayed on Monday evening. 

“Dunay chance gyud madaog ang title kung dili lang sila mo relax. At least kaming mga coaches nagkasabot naman gyud mi unsa among buhaton. Amo gyud gi istudyohan, pero dili lang gyud mo kumpyansa kay sa duwa lingin ra ba gyud ang bola. Basin kami na pud ang demalason, sila na pud ang bwenason,” Pepito told CDN Digital. 

“Mao ra gihapon among buhaton, focus lang gyud sa depensa, improve among shooting sa gawas. Wala mi ga expect mo labaw ug dako ani nga duwa, pero amo lang gyud paninguhaon nga mo depensa lang gyud mi ug tarong. Bahalag unsa among opensa basta among focus kay amo gyud depensa.”

According to Pepito, they have what it takes to beat the Magis Eagles and they’ve shown it on Monday evening by improving their defense which has been their weakness throughout the season.

“Amo gyud gi studyohan among previous games, among nakita nga napildi mi diri na sa last three minutes, among gitan-aw nga kaya ra man gyud namo kung mo depensa mi,” said Pepito.

READ: As Mark Nonoy wins UAAP title, he wonders what could’ve been for UST

Not a single player from SHS-AdC, including its star Jared  Bahay scored double digits on Monday evening, which is a testament to UV’s rock-solid defense.

Bahay only scored nine points, while Alden Cainglet, RJ Dacalos, and Lars Fjellvang each scored eight points in their defeat.

“Ang among gibuhat ani nga duwa, amo gyud gi depensahan si Bahay ug maayo. Bahala ang uban maka score basta dili lang gyud namo mahatagan ug higayon si Bahay,” said Pepito. 

READ: La Salle beats UP in UAAP Finals Game 3, crowned champion