Rommel Rasmo’s ‘sweet’ victory: Magis Eagles secure 7th CESAFI title

Rommel Rasmo during the awarding ceremony of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) Season 23 | By Glendale Rosal

CEBU CITY, Philippines—- Rommel Rasmo cherished winning the high school basketball title sweeter in Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) Season 23 the most out of the seven titles he earned throughout his career as the head coach of the Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles.

Rasmo and the Magis Eagles clinched their seventh Cesafi title and achieved their second three-peat championship after outlasting the equally accomplished University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, 58-55, on Friday evening’s pivotal Game 3.

Rallying behind them was the entire administration of the Ateneo de Cebu headed by their president Fr. Michael Ignacio Pineda, S.J.

Rasmo revealed that the entire school’s workforce decided to reschedule their Christmas party from Friday to Monday to watch their team’s game.

Almost half of the Cebu Coliseum’s bleachers were filled by fans wearing blue and white shirts chanting “One Big Fight” from the tip-off to the final sound of the buzzer that gave Game 3, giving the champions a morale booster.

For Rasmo, it was a special moment for him.

“This title became sweeter because our school administration and the Sacred Heart community decided to move their Christmas party to Monday kasi ngayon dapat mangyayari yun. Their presence from the stands made it extra sweeter and special for me because first time itong nangyari na nandito ang buong community, faculty, and officials, including our president,” Rasmo told CDN Digital.

“I’m also very thankful sa support from everyone sa aming community from the parents, to our athletic Director Jon Inot and to the Cebu Landmasters of Franco Soberano for their great support.”

LEGENDARY COACH

The Baby Lancers, under decorated head coach Delfin “Jun” Pepito Jr., gave Magis Eagles a tooth-and-nail battle which forced their Best-of-Three finals series to Game 3, living up to their old rivalry in Cebu’s high school basketball scene.

For Rasmo and his assistant coach Francis Aoquico, they extend their utmost respect to Pepito and the Baby Lancers.

Rasmo during the interview said that it was an honor for him to share the court with Pepito who he called a “legendary coach” in Cebu basketball.

“Talagang I salute coach Pepito and I admire him, his longevity in the basketball which makes him a legendary coach in Cebu,” said Rasmo.

“To be honest I thought it will be a sweep for us, but that’s UV, they don’t give up, I salute coach Pepito and his coaching staff. In game one, we were outcoached, pinagtrabaho talaga kami, that’s why I’m thankful to them for bringing out our best and I’ve learned a lot from that defeat.”

UV and SHS-AdC now tied for the most Cesafi high school titles with seven each.

Aoquico also shared the same thoughts as Rasmo in giving UV a huge credit for their epic finals series.

“Personally, this UV team, grabe yung relentless nila from first to fourth quarter. Grabe yung depensa nila at hustle, good job sa coaching staff nila sa at sa UV community. Starting the series, our player we have to top the boards and rebounding, we have the height advantage, sa shaded plays at rebounding,” said Aoquico who earned his sixth Cesafi high school title.

“Expected talaga namin kasi UV yan, hindi sila mag chachampion ng seven times kung hindi maganda ang programa nila eh, give credits sa kanila,” he added. /clorenciana

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