ANS VS. APAS CLASH LOOMS
Defending champion ANS sweeps first two games in girls basketball ANS has won girls basketball title four times in last six years Rival Unit 6 has won twice but admits team is in rebuilding phase
The Abellana National School (ANS) and the Apas Integrated Senior High School are showing that when it comes to girls’ basketball, no team gets between the two.
For the past six years in the Cebu City Olympics girls’ basketball, the reigning champion ANS has won the girls’ basketball crown four times and Apas Integrated Senior High School or Unit 6 made it to the top twice.
The two teams lived up to their billing and are the only unbeaten squads through two games of elimination in the 27th edition of the Cebu City Olympics at the Cebu City Sports Institute.
ANS, which is coming off a gold medal win representing Cebu City in the 2017 Batang Pinoy Visayas Leg, routed Pardo National High School, 68-32, yesterday following a win via default over Don Vicente Rama Memorial National High School (DVRMNHS) a day before .
Unit 6, meanwhile, destroyed DVRMNHS, 67-34, yesterday after posting a 72-47 against Zapatera National High School last Sunday.
ANS and Unit 6 remain the favorites to battle it out in the championship match.
Unit 6 head coach Remus Mariñas, though, admitted that they’re going to be the underdog when his wards and ANS clash.
“Right now my team is on a rebuilding process and I think we can get to the top again in two or three years. Majority of our players are in Grade 7 and we are back to our development stage,” Unit 6 head coach Remus Mariñas told SunStar Cebu.
Darwin Dinoy, ANS head coach, on the other hand, wants to continue the winning mentality and attitude that the team has developed over the years.
“The team wants to maintain the mentality, the motto is to be champion and win the game. Most importantly, give respect to the opponents by playing hard regardless of the level of skills of the opposing team,” said Dinoy.
One of ANS current superstar is Florence Jil Talas who made it to the Jr. NBA Philippines All-Stars in China. Darliene Ragasajo, Princess Jiera Delig, Daphne Nardo and Maxim Magbanua all made waves in the Jr. NBA Philippines.
The two coaches agreed that with the efforts of the units and divisions to put girls’ basketball teams, the level of competition is Visayas region is now increasing.
“Central Visayas ranked 16th out of 17 regions in 2013, but we improved to eighth place in 2013 and in 2015, Central Visayas won the bronze medal,” said Dinoy.
Dinoy said that one of his former players who’s now playing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) could help the development of girls’ basketball in Unit 6.
“Ira Canales, who’s playing for Rizal Technological University in NCAA is graduating from an education course and is planning to apply in the Cebu City Division. If it pushes through, it will be good for us so she can coach a girls team,” he said.
Dinoy, who started coaching Unit 6, in 2012 said that aside from NCAA, some of his former Unit 6 players are now playing for United Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
Meanwhile, the 27th Cebu City Olympics will get into full swing after the official opening ceremony at the Cebu City Sports Center yesterday.