MGCNL Advances to PCYAA Season 11 Juniors’ Basketball Tournament Finals

The New Lifers are just two wins away from grabbing the coveted PCYAA trophy and adding another championship award to its trophy case. 

The MGCNL 18U Basketball Team secured its ticket to the grand finals of the 11th Philippine Ching Yuen Athletic Association (PCYAA) Juniors’ Basketball Tournament after escaping a near comeback and securing the victory, 70-67, in an intense semi-final match against UNO High School. This is the New Lifers’ first finals appearance since Season 4 when MGCNL won its first and only championship. 

With an 18-point lead, the New Lifers kept their composure, determined to seal the game and take one step closer to the PCYAA title. The combination of the hard work, teamwork, and determination from the boys, along with the energy and support from the MGCNL crowd, proved to be the perfect recipe for the team’s success. 

In the opening quarter, UNO made a quick 5-0 run, but the New Lifers eventually got into their game and ended the quarter up by 7, 18-11. With the effort and contributions from each player on the team, MGCNL went on to grab their biggest lead of the game, at 36-18.

The Blue Pandas were forced to give up multiple points in the paint, due to unfortunate foul trouble following three of their players. Adam Uy and Trey Chua made sure to take advantage of this, boosting MGCNL to a big lead by making crucial lay-ups and finishes.

Even with a big lead at the halfway point of the matchup, the New Lifers knew that the job was not finished. UNO made several consecutive threes to spark a comeback and cut the lead down to just eight, but the boys in green made sure to keep the lead at double digits, ending the third quarter with a 58-47 lead. 

Unfortunately for the New Lifers, the Blue Pandas made an 8-0 run before MGCNL answered back with five consecutive points of their own. Uy and Chua drained a shot from deep and from the short corner, respectively, to regain an eight-point lead for the New Lifers, 63-55.

With a little over three minutes left in the match, Adrian Tan sank a jumper and completed a three-point play to put MGCNL on a ten-point cushion, at 67-57. 

UNO did not stop there though, as the Blue Pandas scored five unanswered points to cut their deficit down to five, 67-62.

Maddox Lim and the towering Chua sealed the game for the New Lifers as they served UNO with a strong finish at the basket and a free shot from the charity line. 

UNO then scored another uncontested five points to finish their last game of the season, at 70-67, favoring MGCNL.

Captain Karl Yue said in the post-game huddle, “We can’t celebrate yet. No more slacking off, we have to work hard, focus, and prepare for the finals. Last two wins guys… two more wins.” 

The MGCNL Basketball Team, led by Coaches John and James Sia, will once again step foot in the UNO Gym, on March 19, Tuesday, for Game 1 of the best-of-3 finals series. Facing the challenge of the top-seeded St. Stephens High School (SSHS), the New Lifers are ready and excited to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith.

SCORES

MGCNL 70: Uy 21, Chua 15, Tan 13, Sotingco 7, Yue 6, Lim 4, Co 2, Gamboa 2

UNO 67: Ramos 27,  Shi 11, Bautista 8, S. Sy 8, G. Sy  7, Mari 4, Yu 2