UNDERDOG EAGLES STUN TITLE HOLDERS

Undermanned and inexperienced SHSAteneo ends Tay Tung’s two-year reign in Milo Little Olympics basketball

The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles came into the high school division finals of the basketball event of the 33rd Milo Little Olympics as huge underdogs as they were undermanned and inexperienced.

But that didn’t stop the group of young kids, mostly made up of Passerelle division players, and their rookie head coach from dethroning back-to-back defending champion Bacolod Tay Tung School in a come-from-behind fashion, 75-67, yesterday at the Magis Eagles Arena.

“The Milo Olympics experience is good and I enjoyed it. It was a huge achievement for me and the kids,” said Ramel de la Vega, who took over from Francis Auquico as the team’s head coach after being an assistant for the past two years. “I wasn’t the original coach. It was coach Francis. One day coach Rommel (Rasmo) appointed me to bring the team. I’m thankful to coach Rommel for giving me the opportunity.”

SHS-AdC showed its inexperience in the first half, while Tay Tung showed its veteran savvy, playing calm and composed to lead, 40-26, at the break.

In the third quarter, the Magis Eagles finally found its rhythm and Justin Maglasan’s three-point accuracy led to a 14-2 run that cut the lead to just two, 42-40.

Maglasang later on gave SHS-AdC just its second tasted lead of the game with another three-pointer before Tay Tung tied it at 53-53 going into the fourth period.

In the fourth, it looked like Tay Tung would bag title no. 3 as it opened with a 6-0 run to make it 59-53 but SHSAdC, which lost two players in the semifinals to injuries and played with just nine players in final, trailed most of the fourth before finally taking back the lead, 70-67, with a three-point shot by Tristan Fuentes with 1:02 remaining. After a missed three-pointer by Fritz Valencia, Maglasang hit the dagger three to seal it for the Magis Eagles.

“We had a game plan. We made adjustments on the defense of our opponent. Secondly, we put pressure on the ball and adjusted to their plays,” said de la Vega. “My players were relaxed in the second half. In the third and fourth, we adjusted our defense, then our offense followed.”

Maglasang exploded for 24 points, hitting seven of 15 from beyond the arc, to lead SHSAdC. Kurt Laput had 16 points, six rebounds, three steals and a block, while Josiah Villamayor had a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds along with two steals and a block. Jhoernel Tangkay chipped in 10 markers and eight boards.

Valencia led Tay Tung with a near triple-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists along with four steals. Joseph Palaganas and Jules Wong had 17 each, while John Mercado contributed with 11.

Though uncertain of the result, there was one thing that coach de la Vega instilled on the mind of his boys before the finals game against Tay Tung.

“I told them to protect our home court,” he said.

And that they did.

I told them to protect our home court. RAMEL DE LA VEGA

SHS-Ateneo basketball coach, who only had nine players in the final