Players are Francis Abarcar (#4), Van Abatayo (#5), Limuel Patenio (#6), Antonio Bonsubre, Jr. (#7), Ranbill Tongco (#8), Boden Miranda (#9), Louis Macapayag (#10), Mikhail Tee (#11), Arvin Tolentino (#12), Francis Munsayac (#13), Daryl Nazareno (#14), and Gideon Babilonia (#15). They were joined by their head coach Britt Carlo Reroma, assistant coach Mark Jomelosa. Ms. Rosa Ligaya Domingo was also there as Chef de Mission. Domingo and Abalos are members of the DepEd Task Force on School Sports that oversees sports programs in public and private schools and manages the annual Palarong Pambansa,
Some of the players of the CHAMPION team were also part of the delegation which won 3rd place (Bronze) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2010.
Having arrived only three days earlier, the team had a slow start in their first elimination game against the team of the host country, Singapore but lost their second game to Thailand by 4 points. Thailand in turn lost to Singapore. At the end of the eliminations, all the three countries in the group has the same win-loss record of 1-1. Based on the rules and FIBA classification, the goal average must be taken to break the tie. It came out that the average or quotient of the Philippine team placed it at Rank 1. This means facing Rank 2 of the other group, Indonesia, for the semis.
"This is now the time. Remember you’re no longer playing for yourselves – this is for our country and people,” Coach Britt said. "Let’s go for it boys!”
Inspired by their performance against the Indons, and from a cheering platoon of OFWs, parents and the whole contingent, the boys unleashed their firepower and established a 34-point lead at the end of the 3rd period.
"What’s amusing was that the rotation is fluid that gave the opponent no chance to match the player in the court,” adds Abalos. The championship game which was expected to be too close became just like a tune-up game for the Filipinos and ended with a score of 73-47.
"The bigger challenge now is to defend the crown and how to maintain the team since some players will be graduating this school year,” added Abalos. "And not to discount the process of hurdling the lower meets and the Palarong Pambansa. Sometimes being at the top is not easy, it carries a lot of responsibilities.”
Asked about his advice to young potential achievers not just in sports but also in academic and performing and visual arts competitions, to name a few, Abalos has this to say: "Study hard and play with a heart and mind. There are no secrets or shortcuts to success, it is the result of preparation, hardwork, perseverance, discipline, team work, learning the correct skills, and harnessing your talent.”
SBC-Taytay won for DepEd Region IV-A (CALABARZON) the championship trophy in the Palarong Pambansa for 2 consecutive years.
ASG was participated in by seven (7) countries namely: Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. - https://www.affordablecebu.com/
