CAGAYAN de Oro's winningest high school basketball coach James Racines has brought his winning form to the collegiate ranks when he led the Pilgrim Christian College (PPC) Voyagers to their first ever regional Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa) basketball title recently.
Racines, who also coaches the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Cagayan de Oro champion Assumption Montessori School (AMS), steered the Voyagers into whipping the Philippine Countryville College (PCC) of Maramag, Bukidnon, 61-46, at Liceo de Cagayan University gym for the right to represent Northern Mindanao in the National Prisaa meet slated in Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley of Ilocos Region on April 19-26.
It was actually an uphill struggle for the Voyagers as they have to beat twice the Bukidnon boys, the reigning champions, who dealt them of their single defeat in the elimination round.
Manned mostly by former players of AMS, the Voyagers took game one in a closely-fought battle, 56-53, before delivering the coup the grace in Game 2 to ensure a place in the National Prisaa meet.
The Voyagers defeated Misamis Institute of Technology of Ozamis City, and the Iligan Medical Center College (IMCC) in the elimination round to arrange a title showdown with PCC Maramag mentored by Michael Oliveros.
"We have a very small line-up with height average of less than six feet. Our tallest player is only six-foot-two but we made up through our team work and excellent fitness," said coach Racines who has been leading the AMS Jaguars to many title runs in the locality plus a National NBTC crown in Manila in 2018.
The PCC Voyagers' ascension to the National Prisaa qualification in Tuguegarao is their first in many years.
Leading the Voyagers are Danille Real, Russel Christian Hosain, Jerome Sabugaa, Lowelou Zapanta, Homer Dagok, Bon Karlo Babia, John Willy Biwang, Robert Gino Catajoy, Austine Rone Mutia, Bench Kent Baladhay, William Galendez, Alsahaba Macaayan and Diether Quijada.
Racines does not give full credit to himself of their qualification. He acknowledged assistant coaches Lawrence Palabrica and Rey Magadan for a job well done.
He also thanked the administration of Pilgrim Christian College especially its president Dr. Pio D. Baconga and Institute of Business Development and Entrepreneurship head Pao Abella and Sports Coordinator Chita "Kid" Dalman for the great support. (l.biantan@gmail.com)