ASSUMPTION Montessori School basketball team owner Jorey Alfaro and his coach James Racines are still pinching each other and trying to wake from their sweet dreams after winning the (SM-NBTC) SM-National Basketball Training Center High School Division II title.
The Jaguars made Cagayan de Oro history last week when they nipped the highly favored St. Jude College of Cavite, 72-71, in a nail biting championship match at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasig.
“It was a once in a lifetime experience and what a ride it was,’’ said Alfaro.
He added that what gives him more satisfaction is that they have given these players opportunities to study and national exposure of their talents.
Most of Alfaro’s players come from poor families in Cagayan de Oro city and they were recruited from public schools.
Scouts from Manila schools have already tried to woo his players but he does not mind them.
The Jaguars will lose two of their key players for the next season, Rommel Calahat, and Austin Mutya.
Mutya and Calahat are two of the Jaguars’ scoring trio and they are bound to graduate and move to Manila teams next school year.
Calahat scored the winning shot in their win against St. Jade. He averaged in double figures during the tournament along with Mutya and Janao.
The trio led the Jaguars in their victorious journey from the CdeO eliminations, Northern Mindanao elims up to the National finals. And they never lose a match recording a total of 14 wins.
Youngster Milo Janao who won the MVP award is staying and coach James Racines is happy. “Janao will definitely lead the team next season,’’ Racines said.
Racines is not taking any chances. Although their championship Nirvana has not settled yet, the Jaguars will be back on their cemented basketball court on Wednesday for training.
This early, they are already preparing for many tournaments ahead this summer. They are going to Cebu in May to compete in an invitational tournament.
Coach Racines has also started recruiting for young and talented players and many of them have also approached him.
He’s been advising them to show up for tryouts that will officially start on April 1 every 3 p.m. at their humble basketball court at the Villa Angela Subdivision in Balulang.
Their championship feat in the SM-NBTC is an act hard to follow.
But this early the Jaguars, Jorey Alfaro, coach James Racines and his assistants Thirdy Pabillore and Jerico Racines are back on the drawing boards.
They will be busy preparing the players so that they can experience another basketball Nirvana next year.
*****
(l.biantan@gmail.com)