By Katrina Intrepido and Florence Mae Jarillo

THE BRAVEHEARTS of Ateneo de Iloilo flirted with defeat and eventually slugged the championship trophy out from the hands of defending champion Bethany Life Center Academy (BLCA), 93-89, in a do-or-die game of the Principal’s Cup last Monday night, September 27, at Iloilo Sports Complex covered gym.

Just like in Game Two a week ago, BLCA Cubs dictated the tempo of the ballgame from the jump-off point and nearly down the stretch dominating all statistical matrix but steals. Bragging a 59-47 half-time advantage, the Bethany assault continued until it nailed a 72-62 lead in the third quarter.

The Jaro-based team, however, lost air in the last minutes of the concluding canto as the Bravehearts, together with hundreds of roaring blue-and-white shirt crowd, started to swing the tide and give the foul-prone Cubs a dose of adrenalin-rush.

From as much as a 16-point deficit, Ateneo was able to trim the BLCA lead by four a minute before crunch time. Capitalizing on the absence of Cubs mainman Henry Magbanua, playmakers Emmanuel Monfort, Christian Medez and Rafael Bontimel Jr. then showed their way and rounded up four fast points to forge a 32-second rubbermatch at 89 flat. The rest of the ticks were Monfort’s as he slipped a basket in a vintage half-court press 15 seconds before the edge and duplicated the same six seconds shortly to make history for Santa Maria Catholic School-Ateneo de Iloilo (SMCS-ADI).

Monfort dribbled his way to a 38-point performance against the slashing Magbanua’s 25 points. Team captain Bontimel, for his part, sank 24 baskets versus the 17 and 16 points of Rogilio Nicolas and Bryan Suplente, respectively, both of the Johnny Pineda–mentored BLCA. Towering Martin Benedict Palmares, ever-reliable Jocornelius Nunal and high-flying Joel Jibiki also gave Ateneo a big push in the paint marking up the needed boards in the last half.

“We did it! All of us! Ateneans! We did it!” Bontimel said in an ecstatic mood when the game hit the buzzer and the Ateneo crowd went wild and festive. “Our coach is correct. Our crowd is not giving up on us, hence we must not give up, too. And we did the right thing! The Ateneo thing!”

Bontimel, to note, did not budge under grueling court minutes but instead kept his defensive play and was able to finish the game, nursing a sprained right leg.

Erstwhile-injured 5-foot-11 center Michael Tongol also finished as one of the top three lead scorers of the “Hail Mary Team” sewing-up a 10-point show.

SMCS-ADI coach John Trompeta, for his part, said, “We were the underdogs against Bethany and we know they are a strong team. But we also knew we have what it takes to win. Prayers, dedication and crowd support are, indeed, vital elements to win.”

“We thank Bethany for making us a better team,” Trompeta added.

“It was one of the best championship games I have ever seen. SMCS played with a big heart against Bethany which is a stronger team when compared through statistics,” said Alfie Lagman, the Principal’s Cup commissioner.

The Bravehearts, to note, are also powered up by bigman Julius Adrian Lim; paintmasters Christian Brian Tan, Hero Gerard Falco, Jose Francis Valencia, Stephen Pol Buenconsejo, Andrew Christian Go, Cole Pabilona, John Kevin Jereos, Gil Michael Jamili; and guards Michael Paulo Lapus, Kevin Martin Espeso, Norvic Vance Jalipa and Igor Lepp. Under Trompeta’s coaching staff are Jose Anselmo Tenorio and Jerry Jaranilla.

Meanwhile, after beating Iloilo Chinese Commercial High School in the Milo Pasarelle Finals last Sept. 24, the Bravehearts are set to face Don Bosco of Cebu on November 6 at the ISC covered gym for the Visayas Elimination. For the third time, Ateneo will also represent Iloilo for the Visayas Elimination of the Milo Small Basketeers of the Philippines in the grade school division./Ripples