For the first time in 13 seasons, PACE Academy is making its way all the way to the championship round of the Philippine Ching Yuen Athletic Association.
Coached by Michael Oliver, former player of the FEU Tamaraws, who also handled the Batang Gilas squad in major international events a few years ago, PACE ended the elimination round with a 6-2 win-loss record.
Oliver and his troops battled Philippine Cultural College, the same school which produced the great Fortunato “Atoy” Co, in the semifinal round.
Philippine Cultural College defeated PACE in their first outing to salvage a winner-take-all showdown, but Oliver’s wards were able to preserve enough power to endure their rivals in the knockout duel behind the solid games of Johnson Mitchell Co, Christian Martin Chen and Kenneth Chen.
Kenneth posted solid numbers of 23 points and six rebounds in their 71-67 triumph over PCC. The other Chen, Martin, was a solid force on the defensive end, picking up four steals and a block. Co, on the other hand, made three three-point baskets and dished out five assists.
“Maliit na school lang kami halos two to three sections lang per year level at divided pa yun sa tatlo para lang talaga maging three sections. Maliit itong school pero mataas ang standard ng education,” said Oliver, who was no stranger to winning championships.
In 2016, Oliver led the Philippine youth under-16 squad to winning the gold medal in the SEABA tournament. That team was led by future professional players SJ Belangel, Gian Mamuyac, Juan Gomez de Liano and Will Gozum among others.
He also led Batang Gilas to a 13th place finish in the FIBA World Under-17 Championship, which stood as the highest achieved by a Philippine squad playing in that division.
PACE Academy lost its first game to MGC New Life Christian Academy, 69-64, in their best-of-three finals series, but Oliver is upbeat his team would bounce back this Saturday.
