by Manuel Marcial Jr.
Eagles are birds that can fly high. Proving that once an FCPCian will always be a champ, San Beda Gymnasium turns gold as First City Providential College (FCPC) Royal Eagles sweep the Letran Squires Team B, 85-81, in Metro Manila Basketball League Division II championship.
Royal Eagles did a strong start as they found the right rhythm to lead against Squires. Showing their eagerness to win, Bravo, Moralejo, and Pabico racked up leads of as many as 26 points at the 1:41 mark of the third period and scored a runway 67-41.
Before the third period ended, Squires started to do great. Lim, together with De Las Alas, proved that his team can do good game and will not tumble to a hole.
At the resumption of the game, Squires climbed out and came alive. They broke the momentum of the Royal Eagles and tried to hinder its blastoff.
Taking advantage of a broken momentum by FCPC, Letran continue to perform well through their ball movement and so they made a sizzling 34 point fourth quarter.
The lead was still in the Royal Eagles. They came six, 82-76, after a trey by Abdula, but there were only 17 seconds left in the game.
Instead of being contented, Bravo, played the last 17 seconds of the game, not wasting their advantage, with two pressure packed free throws, 84-76. Letran respondent with four more points, but even though they had the shields and armors, the game wasn’t meant for them.
After rigorous trainings and efforts in the game done by the team, FCPC Royal Eagles, headed by coach RJ. Decierdo, made it to bring home the bacon.
As coach RJ Decierdo said in an interview, “Buti na lang medyo malaki yung kalamangan naming kasi nabuhay yung Letran sa dulo. Maliit lang kami na iskwelahan pero fight lang kami. Yung mga bata sinasabak ko talaga sa mga tiga rito sa Manila para masubukan kasi sa Division 2 championships sa Mall of Asia Arena.
Pangarap ng mga bata na makalro roon; the game of the Royal Eagles lives will continue as they are now qualified for the 2019 Chooks to Go NBTS National Finals in March.
Scores:
Moralejo 28, Pabico 19, Bravo 16
Lim 19, De Las Alas 15, Abdula 13