The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles bowed to the visiting De La Salle Zobel Santiago School Junior Green Archers, 69-53, in their championship match last Wednesday night in the Cebu Elite Basketball League Friendship Cup 2013 at the Cebu Coliseum.
It was sweet revenge for the Junior Green Archers who were humiliated by the Magis Eagles during their preliminary match at the University of San Carlos-North Campus (USC-NC) gymnasium last Monday.
Host team, USC Baby Warriors claimed the third place trophy in the friendly tournament by scraping past the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Green Lancers, 78-76.
Coach Boris Aldeguers’ wards had a sluggish first period as the Magis Eagles of Rommel Rasmo led, 15-17. But the visitors took the lead at the start of the second quarter on a three-pointer by Gee Abanilla.
The Magis Eagles managed to take a six-point lead midway through the second on crucial makes by Fil-Australian Ridge Mantua and Jair Igna but the Junior Green Archers leaned on the the brilliant plays of Aljun Melecio and team captain Renzo Subido to grab a four-point edge at the end of the quarter, 30-26.
The Magis Eagles missed all eight of their shots at the start of the fourth and the Junior Archers were quick to pounce on their offensive slack to build a, 59-43 lead. Gio Laguyo broke the Magis Eagles’s offensive silence after scoring two consecutive fast break shots but by then they were already behind by 21 points.
Subido led the Junior Archers with 21 points while Melecio and Maldinger added 15 and 14, respectively. Arnie Padilla led the Magis Eagles with 12 while Igna added 10.
Meanwhile, Clint Suelto led the Baby Warriors 28 markers while Jun Manzo paced the Baby Lancers with 14 points.