Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu starts best-of-three series with University of Cebu
Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
Finals (Juniors)
5:00 p.m. – SHS-Ateneo de Cebu vs UC
For Third (Seniors)
6:30 p.m. – USJ-R vs SWU
The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles have soared high this season, racking up win after win in convincing fashion.
They will try to ascend to new heights as they face off against the latest challenger to their throne – the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters – in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals series in the juniors’ division of the Cesafi basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.
Ateneo de Cebu has gone unbeaten in 12 games so far this season, but a sweep is far from the mind of head coach Rommel Rasmo, especially after his team’s lackluster showing in their last game in the semifinal round against the University of San Carlos.
“Honestly, we don’t talk, we don’t think about sweeping this tournament,” Rasmo said. “The team’s goal is to improve in every game and play better than the last time. In our last game, we didn’t play to par so there’s really a lot to improve on.”
Though the team is replete with players who have not gone to this level, Rasmo is confident in the leadership of his veterans Travis Mantua, Jed Colonia and Phil Calumpang.
“The boys are ready. We’ve been drilling them mentally and physically and I can always lean on the leadership of Jed (Colonia) and Phil (Calumpang),” Rasmo added.
The Magis Eagles are the overwhelming favorites in this series, especially after demolishing the Baby Webmasters, 79-47, in their lone encounter in the semis. It was a dominant defensive performance by Ateneo de Cebu as it limited UC’s potent starters to a mere 19 points with Jelmart Umpad, the Baby Webmasters’ feisty court general, held scoreless.
Still, UC is expected to claw and fight behind its formidable five of the aforementioned Umpad, who once had a rare triple-double this season, Jason Abejo, Luigi Gabisan, Johnbryle Cuyos and leading scorer, Froilan Mangubat.