Fr. Manny Uy, S.J. (SHS-Ateneo de Cebu President), commissioner Jerry Abuyabor and Mark Ynoc of San Remigio Properties lead the Pledge of Unity along with the team captains of the different teams. (CONTRIBUTED)
THE SACRED Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles and the visiting Yin-Lan Win squad from Taiwan came up with emphatic victories at the start of the 1st Magis Eagles International Friendship Games backed by San Remigio Properties on Thursday evening at the Ateneo de Cebu campus in Canduman, Mandaue City.
The Magis Eagles, the three-time defending champions of the Cesafi juniors tournament, bucked a slow start before zipping past the Colegio de Sta. Ana-Victorias, 87-76.
Ateneo de Cebu found itself in a 9-21 hole after the first 10 minutes of action but slowly dominated the next three periods to hack out the win.
Much-improved big man Alex Visser and guard Andrew Velasco led the team with 13 points each.
Jeffrey Manday paced the losing side with 27 markers.
In the second game, the visitors from Taiwan authored a 73-60 win over the Pinoy Youth Dreamers.
Che Ting Lin had 15 even as Che Ching Liao added 10 for the victors. Dan Geronimo had 18 for PYD.
Gracing the opening ceremony were Ateneo de Cebu president Fr. Manny Uy, SJ. and Fr. Jem Guevara, S.J., the school’s Chinese Program Director. Also there to give an inspiration message was Mark Ynoc of San Remegio Properties, who happens to be an alumnus of the school.
This friendship games series started in 2014 when Yin-Lan came over to play a series of friendly games against SHS-AdC and Cebu eastern College and University of Cebu.
In 2015, SHS-AdC went to Taiwan on Yin-Lan’s invitation and played against top Taiwan teams. /Corresdponent Jonas Panerio