SHS-Ateneo nails NBTC six-peat

The Magis Eagles have done it again.

 For the sixth straight year, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu bagged the championship of the SM NBTC League Cebu, taking the rubbermatch Game 3, 84-74, over the University of the Visayas Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

And just like its Game 2 win, it boiled down to a balanced attack, tenacious defense, a fourth quarter surge and the stepping up of yet another player from the bench to score the decisive win.

After a close three quarters, SHS-Ateneo was up, 52-49. The game was tied 14-all after the first quarter and the champions had a 31-30 halftime lead.

The game remained tight as the fourth quarter started with UV slicing the lead to 60-58 with 5:43 left. But that was to be UV’s last stand as the Magis Eagles went on a 20-5 tear to seal the win, taking a commanding 80-63 lead with 1:26 ticks left.

Renzo Calumpang, a role player off the bench who had two triples earlier in the game, drilled two straight back-breaking triples in the run, combining with Errol Pastor, Travis Mantua, Alex Visser and Jeremy Nacua for a balanced scoring surge that caught the Baby Lancers flat-footed.

The Magis Eagles defense also went into stop mode, with its man-to-man pressure defense causing crucial turnovers that led to points. When the dust settled, the offense generated a balanced contribution from eleven different players with Calumpang leading the attack with 17. Three others delivered in double digits with Andrew Velasco’s 15, Pastor’s 14, and Mantua’s 10.

Jancork Cabahug, who is part of the Batang Gilas Under 18 national training pool, led UV with 22 while Joshua Yerro had 11. Pastor was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Elated over the big win, the soft-spoken SHS-Ateneo coach Francis Auquico said he was happy and thankful.

“We are very blessed and happy for this sixth straight championship. We are also thankful that we have the chance to defend our national title. The boys really worked hard and never gave up after our loss in Game 1. Ganda ng pinakita nila sa Game 2 and 3,” Auquico said.

 The team registered its sixth straight NBTC Cebu championship as it celebrates its 60th anniversary, a Jubilee year for the school. This comes on the heels of its fourth CESAFI high school basketball championship.

The Magis Eagles will represent Cebu at the SM NBTC national finals at the MOA Arena March 13-17 where they are the defending national champions.