ONE of the smallest schools in the City of Friendship, Assumption Montessori School, once again proved that it is a giant in local basketball after the Jaguars topped the Cagayan de Oro Athletic Association (COAA) High School basketball event.

The Jaguars of coach James Racines representing West 1 District, advanced to the Regional meet set late this year in Tangub City, swept the tournament and concluded it with a 49-43 win over Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School in the final to capture the gold at the Macasandig gym.

AMS which do not even have a proper basketball court in their Balulang Campus, has represented Cagayan de Oro in the regional meet for four years now under Racines and supported by school owners Jorey Alfaro and Bambi Gomez Alfaro.

Racines leaned on the steady plays of Joshua Mantalabo, Josef Osman, Charmelou Halina, Gary Antigua and Ern Neri to insure their gold medal finish.

Other members of the are Christian Perocho, Jio Sacabin, Jerry Rivera Jr., Kenneth Samorin, Noel Sisa, Alton Valdeheuza, and Boos Idnay. Assisting Racines are Jerico Agustine Racines, Lawrence Palabrica, Rey Magadan, and Aran Jamaca.

Despite of its small size and population AMS is right now the winningest high school team in Cagayan de Oro. They represented the city in the NBTC High School National finals in Manila last summer after winning the Northern Mindanao elimination tournament in Iligan City.

(l.biantan@gmail.com)