Eagles beat UV anew

JUST like in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) finals, one player made the difference for Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu—Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw—the Magis Eagles’ court general and hero of many occasions.

Araw-Araw’s buzzer-beating triple and a scoop lay-up in the final seconds in extra time helped the Eagles survive the University of the Visayas, 96-92, in overtime in the deciding Game 3 for the Cebu Leg title of the 2012-2013 Seaoil-National Basketball Training Camp (NBTC) Elite League at the University of San Carlos Gym last Friday evening.

Araw-Araw’s heroics came at a crucial time as everything seemed to be working for the UV Baby Lancers.

SHS-AdC was trailing by 11 points, 86-75, with a little under three minutes left in the game when they made a huge comeback.

Rendell Senining scored a triple, and then added two more points to give life to the Magis Eagles, which also beat UV in the Cesafi finals last year.

Hynric Ochea completed two free throws and rookie Arnie Padilla scored back-to-back baskets to even the game at 86 and send it to overtime.

UV slowly lost steam in overtime as Ochea scored five points before Araw-Araw hit his clutch triple and game-clinching field goal.

After a brisk exchange of baskets in the first quarter, the Baby Lancers slowly struggled in the next quarters before they picked up momentum in the final quarter.

With Andres Paul Desiderio and Ralph Dinolan forming an offensive threat for UV, the Baby Lancers took the first seven minutes of the fourth period by storm before they mellowed down the stretch.

Ochea topscored for SHS-AdC with 23 points, Senining finished with 18 points, and Araw-Araw, who was named as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, added 16.

SHS-AdC will have one more obstacle to hurdle as the Eagles leave for Ormoc City on Feb. 16 to face the winner of the Tacloban and Ormoc City divisions for the East Visayas ticket to the national finals.