3 Cebu cagers roar with NU Bulldogs
BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur, Philippines — Three former high school basketball stars from Cebu are slowly making a name for themselves, this time in the tougher collegiate cage wars under the banner of the National University (NU) Bulldogs.
They are Patrick Yu and Joshua Sinclair from the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles and Joshua Flores from the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers.
The trio connived for 15 points during NU’s masterful 93-60 demolition of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan Crusaders at the start of the Mayor Kim Lope A. Asis Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament 2018 on Tuesday night at the Lope Asis Memorial Gymnasium here.
“I’m just blessed to have been given this opportunity to play for a big league in Manila. I thank God that NU took notice of my skills and get me into their basketball program,” said Yu, who won two championships with the Magis Eagles in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).
Last year, Yu, a prolific outside shooter, made it to the elite Mythical Five but it was a bittersweet moment for him as SHS-Ateneo’s five-year dominance in CESAFI was ended by the bitter rivals UV Baby Lancers.
Like Yu, Sinclair also relishes the chance to don the Bulldogs jersey in the prestigious University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) for three years now.
“I’m not only proud for this chance but also grateful to be part of this great basketball program,” said Sinclair, who drew comparisons to PBA standout JC Intal when he hooked up with the Bulldogs in 2016.
As a Magis Eagle, the 6-foot-3 Sinclair helped carry SHS-Ateneo to the CESAFI Juniors title in 2014 and also to the NBTC Championship against the San Beda Red Cubs three years ago.
Flores, on the other hand, enjoys each moment playing side by side with his erstwhile rivals.
“I’m really happy that they (Yu and Sinclair) are my rivals once but now we play together under one team,” said Flores, who was once a vital cog of the Baby Lancers. “Hopefully, we will all be able to deliver what is expected of us by NU.” - EBV
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