Sacred Heart Cebu tops NCR, rules high school tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Sacred Heart of Cebu proved it’s the best high school squad in the land, beating NCR’s top team San Beda, 82-78, to capture the Seaoil-NBTC crown at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City yesterday.

Felix Jaboneta and Zachary Huang took charge for Sacred Heart in the fourth quarter as the Cebuanos charged back from eight points down after three quarters and beat the fancied Red Cubs in a tight finish to nail their first ever Seaoil-NBTC plum.

Huang scored eight unanswered points while Jaboneta poured in 10 straight in a telling 18-2 run as the reigning Cesafi juniors titlists overhauled a 59-66 deficit to snatch the championship.

“The players showed their big fighting heart,” said Sacred Heart coach Rommel Rasmo.

Jaboneta ended up with 27 points while Huang added 14 markers in a fitting farewell game for the Sacred Heart squad.

“It’s my last year and I’m happy to help my school win a championship this big,” said the 17-year-old Jaboneta, who was discovered in the Palarong Pambansa after powering his Antique team past Cebu.

It was actually one of many titles that Jaboneta and Huang won for the Magis Eagles, who also reigned in Cesafi and the Palarong Pambansa two years ago.

But nothing beats their feat against a powerhouse San Beda team that won the NCAA and the Palaro last year.

“It’s extra special because this is not only our first, but it also came at the expense of the best schools in the country, including San Beda,” said Rasmo.

San Beda actually dominated the early going, racing to an 18-2 lead with Mark Diputado, who ironically played for Sacred Heart for two seasons before transferring to the Big City, leading the way with 11 points.

But Diputado hurt his knee midway in the second period, enabling the Magis Eagles to mount a comeback behind Jaboneta and Huang.

Fil-Australian Joshua Sinclair provided the needed backup, finishing with 15 points and 17 rebounds.