SHS-Ateneo scores 5-peat in NBTC

CEBU, Philippines – The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles played near-perfect basketball to trounce the University of the Visayas, 110-75, and bag their fifth straight NBTC Elite League Cebu Regional Championship at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City on Sunday. The Magis Eagles had a perfect mix of offense (including 17 triples), a suffocating defense, a fluid transition game and a balanced attack to stun the Bay Lancers in a rematch of the CESAFI high school basketball championship.

It was over right from the start. SHS-Ateneo de Cebu went to Pio Longa in the first quarter as he erupted for 16 points including three triples to take a 41-22 high-scoring quarter. Eight Magis Eagles scored in the dominant quarter, which was spiked by seven triples, thus setting the tone for the rest of the game.

It was the same story in the second period, but this time, seven players shared the offense which included three treys for a 63-35 halftime score.  UV failed to make the necessary adjustments and succumbed to the deeper bench of the four-time defending champs, which rotated its players for fresh legs at any given time.

The bench also shone as reserve Anton Chua took over in the third quarter, drilling in three triples to continue the offensive onslaught where the Magis Eagles built an insurmountable 96-52 lead going in to the payoff period.

It was mere formality to close the game out in the fourth quarter as SHS-Ateneo took its foot off the gas pedal and settled for the historical win.

It was a case of the team with the deeper bench maximizing its line-up with everyone stepping up to deliver. The tight man-to-man defense led to turnovers and points in transition while the rain of treys opened up the inside game for the big men.

Longa (22) and Jaboneta (20) led the attack for SHS-Ateneo as 13 of the 14 players who saw action contributed on offense. It was the highest scoring output for the Magis Eagles this school year with the whopping 41 first quarter points, standing out as a probable school record for the most number of points scored in a quarter. Orlan Wamar led UV with 25.

The Magis Eagles will now play the winner of the NBTC East Visayas leg in a battle of the Central and East Visayas champions. A win here will book their ticket to the NBTC national finals which will be held March 6 to 8 in Manila. The championship marks the second major title for the school this schoolyear after winning the CESAFI championship over UV, 2-1, in a best-of-three series.

The scores

SHS-Ateneo (110) — Longa 22, Jaboneta 20, Chua 10, Araw-araw 9, Sinclair 9, Co 9, Nacua 8, Huang 7, Mantua 6, Colonia 4, Mayol 3, Visser 2, Gaviola 1.

UV (75) — Wamar 25, Cabahug 19, Flores 16, Borbon 6, Schaub 5, Zenarosa 3, Loreto 1.

Quarterscores: 41-22, 63-35, 96-52, 110-75. (FREEMAN)