Hope Christian makes final push for cage glory

MANILA, Philippines - Hope Christian High School is hoping to finally realize its dream of winning back the Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association (MMTBA) Tournament crown when it battles 14-time champion Chiang Kai Shek College today at the start of their best-of-three title series at the Uno High School gym.

It has been 19 years since the last time the Hope Christian cagers have won the coveted title, and the coaching staff, led by Stevenson Tiu, is putting all the stops to quench their championship thirst in the event considered one of the biggest high school tournaments in the country.

“I think this is our best time to shine, we have been playing second fiddle to Xavier and Chiang Kai Shek College before, so I hope we can take the limelight this time around,” said team manager Bernard “Daboy” Yang. “We have sacrificed a lot, so we’re praying that we will make it this time after losing to Xavier last year.”

Expected to lead Hope are Janrey Garrido, Errol Villar, Don Mendoza, King Benemerito and Raymond Tan.

Yang and Tiu said they could not have made it to the finals without the support of Hapee Toothpaste, Jumbo Plastic, Infinite Graphix, Fruitas Fruit Shakes, Nikon Home Appliances, Oceanic Containers Terminal Inc., Hope Christian Board of Trustees and Hope Christian Alumni Association Inc.

“Without their support and confidence on us, we could not make it to the finals again,” added Yang.

Though Hope Christian swept the six-game elims and easily beat St. Jude Catholic School, 89-64, in the semis, Yang and Tiu, who will be assisted by Egay Macaraya, Marlon Celis, Luis Nolasco, Horacio Lim, insist that the Blue Dragons are still the favorites due to their firepower and depth.

The Blu Dragons advanced to the finals by beating four-time defending champion Xavier twice, including a masterful 70-50 win in the knockout game last Wednesday.

Hope Christian won its first title in 1981 with Tiu as one of the stars of the school, then in 1983 with Tiu as coach.

Interestingly, the last time Hope Christian won the championship in 1993 was against Chiang Kai Shek College.