Back-to-Back Glory: New Lifers Successfully Defend PCYAA 18U Basketball Crown
The MGC New Life Christian Academy (MGCNLCA) 18-under basketball team are back-to-back champions, claiming the title over the Jubilee Christian Academy (JCA) Warriors in Season 12 of the Philippine Ching Yuen Athletic Association (PCYAA) 18u Finals last March 19 and 22 in the UNO High School gym.
The New Lifers made history last year when they brought home the trophy for the first time since PCYAA’s Season 4, ending the team’s long seven-year drought. In the current season, the defending champions dominated throughout the preliminary games, accumulating a 6-1 win-loss record with their only loss coming from undefeated JCA. Seeded second going into the playoffs, the New Lifers easily defeated the third-seeded UNO High School Blue Pandas to barge into the finals. With a chance to be two-peat champions in their second finals appearance, the New Lifers found themselves on the verge of writing history once again as they faced their former rival, JCA, for the championship title.
Finals Game 1
Before heading into Game 1, Head Coach John Sia reminded his current players of their previous 2-0 loss against Jubilee years ago in the 12u division PCYAA finals. Counting down the days to redemption, the New Lifers were determined to raise the banner over their former rival. “Treat everyone as a shooter,” said Sia, “may malas sa offense but walang malas sa defense.” Taking their coach’s advice to heart, the New Lifers had no plans of falling complacent and facing defeat once again.
Both teams traded baskets early in the first half, keeping the game close. Jubilee, however, propelled forward, leaving the New Lifers trailing behind. The New Lifers attempted to take the lead from beyond the arc, but their efforts were to no avail as JCA kept their lead, with MGCNLCA down by six, 26-32, at the end of the first half.
Still trailing behind and pressed for time, New Life came out of the halftime break, battering the board for rebounds and racing down the floor to convert offensively. The unrelenting Jubilee warriors, however, led by MVP Karl Uy, responded swiftly throughout the second half, maintaining their lead over the New Lifers.
The New Lifers did not give up as they fought their way through five lead changes, finally taking the lead by two points with only one minute left in the quarter. With nerves of steel, Jubilee’s Ashton Sio made two game-tying free throws, 61-61, sending the game into its first overtime.
Riding on new hopes, both teams continued their exchange until Uy scored five straight points that put the New Lifers up by four with less than a minute remaining.
Chua had a chance to seal the game when he was sent to the line after a JCA jumper. However, he missed both free throws, leaving the Warriors with enough time to get off one last shot. Racing against the clock, Miguel Lim got to his spot and sank a buzzer-beating shot in the dying seconds.
Just as JCA began celebrating what seemed like a one-point victory, the game took a dramatic turn. Upon review, the supposed game-winner was ruled a two-pointer due to a stepping violation, tying the score at 69-69. This unexpected call forced a second overtime, reigniting hope for the New Lifers.
Maddox Lim then made the final push forward, scoring six straight points in overtime to finally seal the deal for the New Lifers. JCA tried to regain their lead but was unsuccessful, with the game ending at 76-74, in favor of MGCNLCA.
Finals Game 2
Only one win away from claiming the trophy once again, the New Lifers entered Game 2 of the finals with their engines roaring. “You could see it on the court, we were hungry to win and finish that series already,” said team captain Chua.
Coming back from a tough position in Game 1, Coach Sia instructed the New Lifers to come out in Game 2 playing on defense to prevent the Warriors from gaining early momentum again. Heeding their coach’s instruction, the New Lifers exasperated Jubilee with their man-to-man defense and overwhelmed the Warriors’ defense as they found each other on the court for easy baskets. “This time,” Chua added, “we were playing as a team, defending hard, swinging the ball around, and scoring quick fast-break baskets."
Suffocating the Warriors with their coordinated and tenacious defensive effort, the New Lifers capitalized on numerous turnovers and missed shots by Jubilee and hedged a seven-point lead over the Warriors at 21-14.
The New Lifers scored fastbreak after fastbreak as they stretched their lead to fourteen and capitalized on Jubilee’s offensive lapses. At the end of the first half, the New Lifers led by 12 points, 35-23, as JCA struggled to get it going. With a lead of up to 24 points, MGCNLCA finished the third quarter strong, 54-35, obtaining a marginal 19-point lead over JCA.
Coming into the final quarter with a substantial lead, all signs indicated a sweeping game-two victory for the New Lifers. However, JCA initiated one last run, steadily chipping on the New Lifers’ lead as Karl Uy and Miguel Lim combined for nine straight points off of three consecutive three-point baskets, narrowing the score down to 57-62 with only over a minute left in the fourth quarter.
Determined to secure the victory, Chua refused to back down against the Warriors. Redeeming himself, he sank two clutch free throws in the final seconds, sealing a 65-59 win and crowning the New Lifers as back-to-back champions.
“I felt like God really was with us,” shared the graduating team captain Chua. “God empowered us through the overtime in the first game, granting us a miracle when the stepping call forced a second overtime.” In inspiring fashion, Chua made himself available on all ends of the court, scoring 17 points and 14 points in games one and two, respectively, and leading in assists through both games, garnering 8 assists and 5 assists in the first and last game.
“The hard work we shared as a team and trust we have in each other paved the way for the greatness that was achieved today,” shared Player of the Game Adam Uy. He led the New Lifers in points in both games, scoring 31 points in the first game and 18 points in the culminating match against the Jubilee Warriors.
Mentored by Coaches John and James Sia, the New Lifers proved their dominance by overcoming the Jubilee Warriors, repaying the 2-0 loss years back in the 12u division. As the graduating seniors bid farewell, they leave behind not just a historic legacy but also the rise of a new generation of champions, ready to carry the MGC New Life basketball team into the future.