THE Ford Academy of the Arts (FAA) juniors go beyond grand slam as they clinched their seventh-straight title after beating its arch-nemesis Davao Jones Academy (DJA) Spunky 85-84, in the Davao Association of Private Schools and Administrators (Daprisa) 2017 Sports Festival Junior Basketball Tournament held at Doña Pilar Learning Center over the weekend.
Ford, thus, will also make its seventh-straight appearance in the Davao City Athletic Association (DCAA) Meet this month.
Ford's Raine Coquilla Maga was hailed as the finals most valuable player (MVP) after sinking the most crucial three-pointer set by teammate Gene Lander Dela Cruz barely 20 seconds left in the regulation.
Coach Moses Mabayao, in a Facebook chat with SunStar Davao, admitted that it was a hard-fought game against the much-improved roster of DJA.
But that challenge, according to Mabayao, made the victory worth it.
Mabayao, however, hopes to pull it off in the city meet this year as they expect much-tougher rivals especially the solid line-up of Holy Child College of Davao (HCCD), coached by Nestor Sorrosa.
"We will just work hard during the practice," Mabayao said on how they will live to conquer their mission.
The Bambino Santander-mentored FAA is also bannered by Jude Paolo Bagay, Aeron Steve Catipay, Kenneth Yap, Jim Horace Sebastian, Kurt Vincent Magbanua, Louie Lumen, John Danlag, Andrei Alcordo, Allen James Lluvido, Clent Rowell Padriquela, JahpetGalupo, DarelBariquit, with assistant coaches Mabayao, Kenneth Betita and Christian Quiamco.
DJA Cadets, meanwhile, avenged the juniors and annihilated Ford Cadets 130-70, in the cadets division.
In the elementary division, Precious International School of Davao (PISD) gained their third straight title after crushing Maranathan Christian Academy (MCA) 69-31, behind the heroics of finals MVP Yoji Benedick Jao who sizzled 17 points.
PISD will also advance to the DCAA Meet.