The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles drew closer to the prize that eluded them last year as they took Game 1 of the best-of-five finals series in the juniors division after demolishing the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, 94-82, in the 2011 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Magis Eagles faltered in their quest to become champions last year as they fell at the hands of the resurgent Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons.
This year, they have returned with a vengeance and so far, have made believers out of a lot of doubters as they blew the Baby Lancers out of the water in the second period with a sizzling run.
SHS-AdC led by a slim margin, 20-17, after the first but uncorked a 19-4 blast anchored on the efforts of Aaron Sing, Mavii Suarez, Dave Yu, Julius Cadavis and lefty guard Patrick Go, who time and time again burned the defense of UV en route to registering a team-high 19 markers.
The Eagles led by as many as 18, 39-21, but settled for a 48-36 bulge at halftime.
Meanwhile, the best-of-three series for third place in the juniors and seniors divisions were sent to a deciding Game 3 with wins by CEC and the University of San Carlos Warriors.
The Dragons got past the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Baby Panthers, 84-82, while USC downed the UV Green Lancers, 65-58.