Two years of being the bridesmaids finally ended for the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu after the Magis Eagles swept the best-of-five finals series with defending champions University of the Visayas Baby Lancers following their, 77-72 Game 3 victory last night in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) secondary basketball at the Cebu Coliseum.
After two failed tries at the title including last year where they lost to the very same UV squad despite leading the series, 2-1, the Magis Eagles completed an undefeated season with the title-clinching win for the school’s first crown in its distinguished 56-year history.
And just like in Game One, Mythical Five guard and Rookie of the Year, Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw, was the team’s brightest star as he bailed out the Eagles with a go-ahead lay-up with three minutes left after UV regained the lead. He also hit a crucial floater and two free-throws in the game’s waning moments that sealed the win and the title for the Eagles. The 5’6 guard, who is fresh off a stint with the San Beda Junior Cubs, finished with a team-high 18 points.
However, there was furor near the end as UV walked out of the floor after the blue and white celebratory balloons fell with five seconds remaining, and the score pegged at 72-75. Tempers flared especially from UV head coach, Delfin Pepito, who ordered his wards to walk out from the court. Fortunately, Cesafi commissioner, Felix Tiukinhoy, was able to urge Pepito and his wards to finish the game.
UV’s last stand at its title defense was a gallant one as they erected an early 10-point lead, 21-11. But the Eagles rallied in the third period with an 18-4 blast led by reserve big man, Fletcher Galvez, for a 64-56 lead heading to the final canto.
The Baby Lancers fought fiercely and took a, 68-67 lead after a 12-3 run capped by a floater from Paul Desiderio. But Araw-Araw responded with a dipsy-doo lay-in at the other end of the floor that put them back in front. MVP, Dawn Ochea and Gio Laguyo hit a free-throw each for a, 71-68 Ateneo advantage.
RJ Dinolan kept UV in it with two freebies but Laguyo came up big once more with a coast-to-coast lay-up. Then, after a 24-second shotclock violation by UV, Araw-Araw came up with the death blow as he deftly made his way into the lane and hit a floater for a, 75-70 lead with 41.9 seconds remaining.
Galvez added 16 for SHS-AdC to make up for the nine-point foul-plagued performance of Ochea. Desiderio had 19 to lead UV while Dinolan chipped in 14 markers.