MGCNL Finishes Third in the FCAAF 18U Basketball Tournament
The MGCNL basketball team clinched a hard-fought third place in the fiercely competitive Group A of the FCAAF 18U basketball tournament.
The New Lifers competed against eight other Filipino-Chinese schools for a spot in the inter-bracket semifinals stage. They ultimately failed to advance, finishing with a 6-2 record despite multiple absences and injuries from key players.
On opening day, MGCNL fell short in an overtime thriller, 66-70, to Saint Mary’s Angels College of Valenzuela. The New Lifers regrouped immediately to bounce back and deliver a 29-point beatdown against Hope Christian High School, winning 81-52.
The 18U maintained their momentum and swiftly grabbed two consecutive wins against the Philippine Pasay Chung Hua Academy by 65 points, and Makati Hope Christian School by 117 points, eliminating both teams from the tournament.
The New Lifers were in for an even bigger challenge, having to play three consecutive games against the Philippine Academy of Sakya (PAS), along with powerhouses Chiang Kai Shek College (CKSC), and Xavier School San Juan (XSSJ).
The team grabbed a light 84-71 win over PAS despite the physicality of the opposing team. Even with the absence of several players, MGCNL stood their ground and served the previously undefeated CKSC a tough loss winning 63-55. However, they fell to XSSJ the next day by only ten points.
Sailing with two losses, the New Lifers unfortunately lost the opportunity to grab one of the top spots of the bracket. Even so, this did not stop the team from finishing strong as they aced their final assignment against Saint Jude Catholic School, winning by three points at 68-65.
Throughout the tournament, floor generals Karl Yue and Trey Chua, and elite marksmen Adam Uy, Maddox Lim, and Adrian Tan led the New Lifers. Team Captain Yue averaged 10.1 PPG, 9.4 RPG, and 2.4 APG, while Chua averaged 9.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 4.8 APG. Spearheading the New Lifers’ offense, Uy, Lim, and Tan averaged a combined 40.4 PPG.
The New Lifers are currently seeking redemption in the ongoing GPSOA Basketball Tournament. In 2024, the team will face its biggest challenge yet in the upcoming 11th PCYAA Season.
