SHS-ADC advances to NBTC semifinals
PASIG City – The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu is one game away from defending their title as they marched to the semifinal round after scoring two masterful victories in the 2013 Seaoil-NBTC National High School Championship at the Philsports Arena here.
The Magis Eagles were tentative in the early morning game before pulling a 77-61 win over Davao City's Holy Child College then proved too tough for Northern Luzon qualifier La Finn Scolastica of La Union with a resounding 102-49 for its third straight victory to top Group B.
The Maynilad backed-SHS-AdC will be facing the Mako-sponsored Metro Manila Basketball League in today's semifinal match at 8 a.m. at the Philsports Arena. The other semifinal match will be between the San Beda College Red Cubs against giant slayer Iloilo Central Commercial High School also at 8 a.m. at the Ynares Sports Center.
Although they pulled off impressive victories, Visayas territory head and SHS-AdC regular coach Rommel Rasmo said he still was not happy with the performance of his players against the Davao City-based team.
“We already had them in the early goings. But they let it go because they became complacent. We could not play that way especially against any NCR team,” Rasmo said.
The Magis Eagles started strong but unlike last Friday when they put the game away as early as the first quarter, SHS-AdC allowed Holy Child to comeback and stayed within 2215 after the first quarter.
Although they were able to adjust quickly, a 25-16 blitz in the second quarter was not enough to give the Magis Eagles a safe lead.
Hnyric Ochea rebounded from an unproductive first game as he led SHS- AdC with 15 points.
Fletcher Galvez added 14 and Rendell Senining finished with 10 points for the Cebuano squad. Dignos topscored for Holy Child College of Davao with 15 points.
On their afternoon game, the Magis Eagles were having a field day using its full-court trapping defense to force La Finn players to commit errors that were cashed in by the Cebuanos at the other end of the floor.
Jair Igna topscored with 15 points before fouling out of the game. Giovanni Laguyo and Ochea had 14 points each.
After the semifinal round today, the National All-Star game will be played at 11 a.m. then the knockout finals will take place at 1 p.m. at the Ynares Center.
As of press time yesterday, Cebu representatives Andres Paul Disederio and Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw got to work with coach Jong Uichico of Meralco Bolts.