MGCNL Defeats SSHS, Takes Game 1 of the 11th PCYAA Juniors Basketball Finals

The New Lifers are now only one win away from gaining the Philippine Ching Yuen Athletics Association Basketball (PCYAA) title, as they served St. Stephens High School (SSHS) a 67-63 loss, and secured a 1-0 lead for the finals series. 

The MGCNL 18U Basketball Team took home game 1 of the 11th PCYAA Juniors’ Basketball finals after a big run in the second half to secure the victory against SSHS, 67-63. 

After losing to SSHS in the elimination round by one point, 68-69, the New Lifers have yet to drop a matchup, winning their last five, and now grabbing their sixth straight victory in this rematch. MGCNL was determined to steal a win and grab a one-game advantage going into the well-anticipated finals match-up. 

The Stephenians took control early in the opening quarter of the match, making two shots from beyond the arc to open the game. On the other hand, the New Lifers feasted down below, securing 12 of their 13 first quarter points in the paint. A careless foul by SSHS towards the end of the first allowed guard Jacoby Tan to split his freebies at the line, and cut the lead down to two, at 13-15. 

Entering the second quarter, SSHS made a quick jumper but Trey Chua knocked in a three-ball to put the New Lifers within a one-point difference, at 16-17. MGCNL continued with nine unanswered points to increase their lead to as many as eight points, 25-17, behind multiple tough finishes at the rim. SSHS did not allow themselves to fall back just yet, as they fired a run to cut the deficit back to just one point, ending the 2nd quarter down, 29-28.

After a wild first half in the electric crowd-filled UNO Gym, the boys and the MGCNL crowd needed the time to readjust and align themselves for the second half.

Fresh off the halftime break, both teams did not budge and kept on fighting, with six lead changes in the third. Big man Kurt Sotingco finished strong in the paint to regain the lead for the New Lifers, at 37-36 with four minutes remaining in the quarter. 

From then on, they finished the quarter strong with an 11-4 run, behind captain Karl Yue, wingman Maddox Lim, and Chua, ending the third quarter up 48-40. 

In the final quarter, SSHS made a quick effort to cut the lead down, 49-45, but marksmen Adam Uy and Chua sank two triples to put the lead of the New Lifers up to double-digits, at 55-45. Uy did not stop there, as he went on to finish strong up near the basket two consecutive times, keeping the lead at 11 points, at 59-48. 

With around three minutes left in the game, Uy showed up once again, sinking two clutch free throws, to bring the New Lifers to their biggest lead of the game, up 12 at 64-52. 

Sotingco then made another basket before the Stephenians made their last efforts to steal the match.

Time was on MGCNL’s side as the game clock sounded with the team still retaining their lead, ending the match up by four points, at 67-63. 

Chua bagged the Player of the Game honor as he led the New Lifers with a greatly efficient 15 points on 75% from the field, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three blocks. Uy, who scored 11 points in the fourth alone, finished with 15 points as well. Yue, Tan, and Sotingco cleaned the boards all night, as Yue grabbed 12 while Tan and Sotingco each grabbed 11 rebounds, totaling 34 of 52 team rebounds. Lim led the bench mob of the New Lifers, scoring nine points off the bench, along with five boards, and two steals. 

Inside the dugout, the boys made sure to refocus and shift their minds toward the upcoming second game of the 11th PCYAA Juniors’ Basketball finals. The New Lifers know that the series is not over, and it is not the time to celebrate just yet. Instead, they must continue their preparations for the upcoming game, and capitalize on their chance to win it all. 

The MGCNL Basketball Team, led by Coaches John and James Sia, aims to end the series once and for all in the UNO Gym, on March 23, Saturday, for Game 2 of the best-of-3 finals series. One win away from their first title since Season 4, the New Lifers are ready to play their hearts out and get that championship.

SCORES

MGCNL 67: Chua 15, Uy 15, Lim 9, A. Tan 7, Sotingco 6, Yue 5, Lo 5, J. Tan 3, Cheng 2

SSHS 63: Teng 23, Ng 19, Ong 10, Bumanlag 9, Zhou 2