USJ-R coach Cadavis on a mission vs former team in CESAFI Finals

CEBU, Philippines — University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars head coach Julius Cadavis is certainly a man on a mission in their highly anticipated Finals showdown with the three-time defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 men’s basketball tournament.

Game 1 of their best-of-three series for the juniors division crown is set at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, at the Cebu Coliseum.

Setting aside pressure for the time being, Cadavis looks forward with excitement to face his former team and coach Rommel Rasmo, who has somehow helped mold him into what he is now today.

Cadavis once suited up for the Magis Eagles that emerged as back-to-back national champions of NBTC Developmental League in  2011 and 2012 under the guidance of Rasmo.

In both occasions, Cadavis was honored as the Most Outstanding Player that earned him a spot in the elite list of NBTC’s 13 greatest players of all time alongside Carl Tamayo, who went on to become part of the Gilas national team, and Jalen Green, who currently plays for the Houston Rockets in the NBA.

Now, the 29-year-old Cadavis is up against his erstwhile mentor with eyes on claiming what he failed during his high school years - a championship trophy.

“Excited ko kay we will be facing my former team and former coach, coach Rommel (Rasmo). It will be a good match-up kay defending champion sila, naa na sila championship experience sa CESAFI unya rookie year nako,” said Cadavis, who formed part of the Arellano Chiefs that reached the NCAA Finals twice in 2014 and 2016.

Faced with a tough challenge of ending USJ-R’s 22-year title drought, Cadavis can draw extra motivation from the Baby Jaguars being the only team that beat the Magis Eagles this season in decisive fashion, 62-40, last September 28.

“Hopefully, everything will go well. We will play our hearts out and try to end the 22 years title drought of USJ-R,” said Cadavis. “Pero we will take it one game at a time gihapon. With the help of our assistant coaches and coach Melo Banua in preparing the team for this series, we will be ready.”

The first and only time that the Baby Jaguars were crowned CESAFI champions happened a long time ago in 2002.

“We want to express our appreciation to our team manager Francis Tolibas, Fr. Glynn Ortega, the Recoletos fathers, and the USJ-R community for their all-out support sa team. We do not mind the opinion of some USJ-R alumni who doubted us. We just think of these as encouragement para daugon jud namo ang series,” Cadavis ended. — (FREEMAN)