CEBU, Philippines - Winning a championship is every coach's dream. Achieving it in a manner that is beyond their expectations makes the feat more meaningful.
That is what coach Gary Cortes of the University of the Visayas Green Lancers and Rommel Rasmo of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles have accomplished in the 16th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. basketball season that dropped its curtain the other day at the Cebu Coliseum.
In just his two years as chief strategist of the most storied team in Cebu collegiate hoopdom, Cortes powered the Lancers to the coveted CESAFI crown.
With no less than their team manager Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas, Jr. acting as their chief cheerleader at the sidelines,
they dethroned the defending champions University of San Carlos Warriors with an emphatic 66-53 victory in Game 4 of their best-of-five finals on Saturday night.
They closed the series with a 3-1 record to win their first title in three years and 11th overall since 2000.
Before scaling the summit of success, the Lancers went through a long and meandering journey.
Even before the season could start, they were already dealt with a heavy blow when their two All-Star players in Jun Kent Manzo and Leonard Santillan unceremoniously dumped them in favor of the University of the Philippines Maroons in the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) based in Manila.
But the Lancers played it cool in the face of adversity. They took all frustrations that smacked their way constructively and eventually used it as their ladder to success.
Fighting with renewed challenge and vigor, the Lancers still had to deal with some tribulations after they suffered four losses that unexpectedly dropped them to third place in the standings after the double round elimination.
Then their campaign took a bright turn when they pulled off a crucial 65-52 win over the previously undefeated Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras in the semifinal round. So vicious the 13-point romp was that had it been a boxing match, it was nothing less a one-punch knockout that shut down Southwestern U's championship hopes.
Playing with much confidence that their bitter rivals are now out of their sight, the Lancers went on to finish off the Warriors to end their roller-coaster ride on a resounding note.
For all that they've been through, Cortes doffs his hat to what had been a great team effort by the Lancers.
"The key factors of our victory are the players dedication and the will to win. As an unexperienced coach, calling the shots for a title contender team is not an easy job. The pressure to win is always in your shoulder," said Cortes. "But with our joint efforts, with coaches Jomags (Jojo Maglasang) and Coach Van (Halen Parmis), we are able to develop quality and disciplined players that deliver another title to UV and the Gullas family."
Like Cortes, Rasmo also basked in the glow of championship glory, albeit in grander fashion.
Interestingly, Rasmo is the same bench tactician that guided the USC Warriors to their second straight finals appearance.
Even though they lost to the Lancers, Rasmo stands tall and proud still for steering the Magis Eagles to a historic four-peat in the juniors division.
They completed a two-game sweep of the University of Cebu Junior Webmasters in a sweet revenge over the only team that beat them not only once twice this season.
And Rasmo has nothing but words of praise and admiration for his spirited hardcourt warriors who always rise above any given challenge.
"Every championship is a sweet victory for us. We would not have accomplished this without my players' passion and discipline to work hard and sacrifice a lot for the team. I am proud of what they have achieved," said Rasmo. "I am thankful that I am surrounded with good people especially the Ateneo community who had been very supportive to our basketball program."
On what's up for them in the next season in the tournament the dominated since 2012, Rasmo said they will just have to prepare hard and do their best just like what they have been doing every year.
In the meantime, Rasmo and Cortes must take a much-needed break and enjoy the sweet taste of success they both worked so hard to achieve. (FREEMAN)