Historic Gold for Philippines in ASEAN Schools Games
The Philippines boys basketball team made history on Thursday, November 27, 2025, by capturing their first-ever ASEAN Schools Games championship with a dramatic 90-86 overtime victory against Malaysia. The thrilling final took place at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Brunei, where the young Filipino athletes showcased exceptional determination and skill.
Teamwork and Heart Secure Victory
Head coach Jess Linus Evangelio praised his team's remarkable performance, emphasizing that the victory was achieved through pure heart and collective effort. "It was a tight game down the stretch, deadlock pa," Evangelio told SunStar Davao. "We locked in on defense. They gave their all."
The coach highlighted that while Rene Clerk Baterbonia and Rhysus Bajenting carried significant scoring responsibilities, the triumph belonged to the entire squad. "Team effort, ma'am. Lahat sila may kanya-kanyang roles. They are all superstars in their role," Evangelio declared, underscoring the importance of every player's contribution.
Road to Championship Glory
The historic victory capped an impressive tournament run for the squad represented by the 2025 Palarong Pambansa champion Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa), reinforced by standouts from Central Luzon (Clraa). The Filipino team demonstrated dominance throughout the competition, defeating Brunei and Singapore in group play before routing Indonesia 85-59 in the semifinals.
Thursday's final marked the second encounter with Malaysia, following a narrow 76-74 victory in the preliminary round. Coach Evangelio noted that the earlier close call actually helped his team, saying "Wala na yung first-game jitters" as the players had already gelled as a unit.
Overcoming Challenges
The Philippine team faced significant adversity entering the championship, competing with only 10 active players due to injuries to Jhon Mark Peligrino and Aaron Bayanban. Peligrino sustained a foot fracture during the Dcaa championship earlier in the month, with team doctors expecting his return by February.
Despite being undermanned, team morale remained exceptionally high. "Sobrang excited sila," Evangelio shared, while reminding his players to avoid complacency. The coach's pre-game message was simple but powerful: "Give your all, your 100 percent on and off the court. Ibigay lang lahat para sa bayan."
Celebrating a Landmark Achievement
Following the gold-medal victory, Coach Evangelio posted an emotional tribute on Facebook, declaring his team "HISTORY MAKERS!!! The first-ever Mindanao Basketball Boys team to step onto the Asean School Games stage, and you brought home the GOLD!"
The achievement received recognition from educational authorities, with Davao City Schools Division Superintendent Rey Solitario calling the triumph "a powerful testament to the skill, discipline, and determination of our young athletes." He expressed particular pride that the team featured outstanding athletes from Davao who brought honor to both the Philippines and every Dabawenyo.
The team was scheduled to return to the Philippines on Friday evening, November 28, via Manila, with plans to fly to Davao early Saturday morning. The Ateneo de Davao University core players will receive a brief one-day break before resuming preparations for the National Basketball Training Center league, which will serve as their tune-up for the upcoming Davraa Meet.
Looking ahead, Coach Evangelio identified potential roster additions, noting the need for "Big man po, pati additional scorer" in case Peligrino doesn't recover in time. The historic victory marks a significant milestone for Philippine youth basketball and sets a new standard for future international competitions.
