Eagles guard title for third time

REIGNING Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) high school champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles will be defending the National Basketball Training Camp (NBTC) national title for the third time on March 1-3.

The Magis Eagles will be shooting to keep the Seaoil-NBTC Elite League National title four years in a row as they join the other finalists from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila.

However, keeping the title might be a little tougher this time as they need to hurdle a team from the National Capital Region (NCR), which would come either from the UAAP or the NCAA member schools.

“It might be tougher this time, because there’s the NCR team. There was no NCR team before. But, still, this Magis Eagles has complete weapons to win the national title,” said NBTC-Visayas Area head Rommel Rasmo, who is also the regular coach of the SHS-AdC.

During the elimination round—SHS-AdC will be vying for the semifinal slot against fellow Visayas teams—the West Negros University of Bacolod City and the Iloilo Chinese Commercial High School of Iloilo City.

“Our chances are still good, at least we will make it to the finals. I am very proud of my team. Although playing against New Ormoc City National High School was just for formality, our victory over UV was very sweet. The Cesafi finals was anti-climactic (because the momentum of the victory was cut short by the premature dropping of the balloons). Our three-game series with UV for the Cebu Leg title made up for it.

Unfortunately, I was at the sidelines because I was not allowed to coach my team,”
added Rasmo.

SHS-AdC will fly to Manila on Feb. 28 to make it in time for the national finals opening in the morning of March 1.