Sharing and giving: Magis Eagles embrace true spirit of Christmas

CEBU, Philippines — Two days after winning a historic four-peat in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 basketball tournament, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles radiate love and spread kindess off the playing court.

Last Sunday, December 8, the Magis Eagles joined their team physician, renowned sports doctor Rhoel Dejaño, in his yearly tradition of holding a gathering for kids and their families in a mountain barangay in Balamban town, northwest of Cebu during the Yuletide season.

“This year, it was something special as I was assisted by the recently crowned champions of CESAFI Season 24 High School Basketball. They asked me if they can join me this year as their way of celebrating thanks for the graces the team have recieved. I obliged to their request and had them join me up in the mountains,” said Dejaño, who was honored as “Sportsman of the Year” by the Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) last May.

The Magis Eagles, under the guidance of coach Rommel Rasmo, achieved a monumental feat last Friday, December 6, when they became the first ever high school team to grab for consecutive championship crowns in CESAFI’s 24-year history.

With eight titles overall since their breakthrough success in 2012, the Magis Eagles also claimed the record as the winningest juniors squad in Cebu’s premiere inter-school school athletic league.

Aside from sharing food, Dejaño and the Magis Eagles also took part in fun-filled parlor games and dance contests before handing out gift packs and a lot of raffle prizes to the kids and their families.

“I saw in their faces the joy of being able to share with the kids a little something especially during this season of Christmas,” Dejaño continued.

“While winning titles and accolades can be exhilarating , the development of strong character traits offers a more enduring and meaningful reward. And us, as mentors, should be the ones to guide them through this goal and with this team, I can see that it has been fulfiiled and they are champions with a heart.” — (FREEMAN)