A THIRD consecutive title proved to be elusive for Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, dropping its semifinal match Sunday against eventual runner-up Hope Christian High School, 73-66, in the 2013 Seaoil National Basketball Training Center championship at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Trailing by a point at the end of the first quarter, the Magis Eagles were overwhelmed with Hope’s offense especially in the second period, where they only scored a measly five points.
Sweet shooting guard Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw tried to change the tide in the fourth, unloading nine of his team’s 16 markers but Hope’s shooters simply erased it, led by tournament Most Valuable Player Clint Doliguez’s 13 points.
“The presence of NCR teams really affected our chances of winning the title. This experience, however, showed that Cebu basketball can compete against Manila,” Araw-Araw, a former San Beda Red Cub, told Sun.Star.
Araw-Araw, who also saw action in the All-Star Game along with Andres Paul Desiderio of the University of the Visayas, said they will try to reclaim the crown next year.
Fletcher Galvez, Arnie Padilla and Araw-Araw finished with 12 points apiece, while bigman Dawn Ochea had 11 points and seven rebounds. Ochea and Rendell Senining were named to the Mythical 10.
It was the first time that a non-Cebuano team won the championship trophy since 2010.
San Beda outlasted Hope in overtime, 100-96, to earn the tournament’s biggest prize. Former national youth team standout Arvin Tolentino broke a 96-all deadlock with eight ticks left while NCAA finals MVP Javee Mocon perfected his charities for the final tally. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)