Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu survives Cebu Eastern College in double overtime

The  Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles secured  themselves the second seed and the all-important twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals as they rallied past the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, 82-81, in double overtime of the juniors division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

It was the same story for the Eagles but a different result from their 91-96 double overtime loss to the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers last Saturday, which cost them the number one seed in the semifinal round.

It was nearly déjà vu for Ateneo, as they were headed for another heartbreaking loss if not for the last four points that was scored by Julius Cadavis, including the game-winning free-throws.

The loss gave CEC a 12-4 (win-loss) record at the end of the elimination round, which relegated the reigning champions to the third seed in the playoffs. They will face the same Magis Eagles squad starting next week.

For a while, it appeared that CEC was headed for the easy win as they established their biggest lead of the game at 13, 59-46, after a three-pointer by Marvin Bauya with 7:33 left.

But much like their first encounter in the first round, the Magis Eagles came fighting back and tied the game at 61-all with a sizzling 15-2 run capped off by a turnaround jumper by Cadavis with 1:01 left.

CEC’s Lyle Sumayang gave the lead back to his team with two free-throws but Ateneo tied the game and sent it to overtime from a freethrow each by Cadavis and Dawn Ochea.

CEC’s Alfred Sedillo hit a pressure-packed trey from the corner to once again send the match to another five-minute session.

In the second overtime, Cadavis donned the hero’s cape as he hit a freethrow jumper and then converted two freebies with 10.6 seconds to push the Eagles in front for good,  82-81.