FOR two straight years, the Region X Palaro Secondary Boys basketball have failed to advance to the semis losing by only one point in the quarter finals of the Palarong Pambansa.

This year, coach James Racines, who has coached the Northern Mindanao team for four straight years now, wants to stop that jinx and vows to advance to the semis and eventually win a medal for the region.

“In Antique two years ago we lost to Region VII by one point in the quarter final. Last year we also suffered the same setback against Western Visayas. I hope to stop this jinx,” said Racines, the architect of a very successful basketball program of a tiny school in barangay Balulang, Assumption Montessori School.

He added that he is bringing a team of reliable players to Davao but he wants his players to stay focus during the matches. “It is important that they do not lose their composure during the games,” Racines said.

He picks teams from the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, and Western Visayas as teams to watch.

Racines will lean on his players from his AMS team, Gary Antigua, Josef Usman, Kenneth Samorin, Ern Neri, and Charmelou Halina. He will also get help from reinforcements Angelo Mercado from City High School, Lino Dubria and Kim James Bulasa from Valencia City, Bukidnon.

Completing his 12 man team are Noel Sisa, Jerry Rivera Jr., Christiantly Perocho and Joswa Montelaba all from AMS.

AMS won the CdO Division meet last year and advanced to the Palarong Pambansa after beating Valencia City for the gold medal in the regional meet in December last year.

The team left for Davao City Sunday morning and are billeted at the Calinan Central Elementary School in Davao City All their games will be played at the University of Southwestern Philippines.

(l.biantan@gmail.com)