Magis Eagles player Velasco breaks leg in CESAFI game

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles run to 3-0 in the CESAFI high school tournament was marred by a freak accident that resulted in a horrific injury to one of their key players during their game against the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves Tuesday, August 15 at the New Cebu Coliseum.

At the 7:50 mark of the 3rd quarter, Magis Eagles shooting guard Andrew Vincent Velasco broke his right shin when he had a bad fall after slamming against the Greywolves’ Juan Miguel dela Torre while driving to the basket.   

Velasco landed on the side of his right foot which resulted to him going off balance and landing on his right leg, causing the shin bone to jut out of the skin and leave the junior cager screaming in pain with a compound fracture.

Medics immediately came to his aid and he was taken off the hardcourt on a stretcher. CESAFI resident physician Rhoel Dejano put the cager’s right leg in a splint before he was transported to the University of Cebu Medical Center.

He is being ruled out for the season which Magis Eagles head coach Rommel Rasmo says is a big loss to the team which is gunning for its fifth CESAFI junior title this season.

“Exactly, malaking bagay yon, good thing si Jed (Jed Cedrick Colonia) nandyan but I think, siempre I’m still confident sa team kasi I know yong iba mag step up din. I trust my players.”

(Exactly, it is a big thing, good thing Jed is there but I think, of course I’m still confident of the team because I know the others will step up. I trust my players.) 

In an fortunate twist of fate, the Magis Eagles just got back its star player Jed Cedrick Colonia, the two-time CESAFI junior Most Valuable Player, who saw action for the first time this season in their game against the Greywolves.

Colonia was not allowed to play in their first two games because he is still trying to fully recover from an ACL injury.

The Magis Eagles may have gotten Colonia back but they also lost Velasco who opened the season by topscoring with 18 points in their season opening game against the University of Southern Philippines (USPF) Baby Panthers.

Velasco hails from Bacolod and is staying at the SHS-AdC campus in Mandaue City.

Despite the unnerving incident, the Magis Eagles stayed focused on the game and ended the third canto with an 18-point lead over the Greywolves, 46-28.

During the huddle going into the final quarter, Rasmo calmed his players by telling them to stay positive.

“Sabi ko lang stay positive guys, wala na tayong magawa, we have to move on, ang pinakamasakit pa dito nawala na si Andrew tapos matatalo pa tayo dito so all we have to do is to make sure to fight back and you know we have to keep going kasi it is still a long way to go,” said Rasmo.

(I just told them to stay positive, there’s nothing we can do, we have to move on, it will be more painful that we lost Andrew and then we will lose in this game, so all we have to do is to make sure to fight back and you know we have to keep going because it is still a long way to go.)

However, the Magis Eagles’ composure started to crumble as after posting their highest lead at 22 points, 53-31, they allowed the Greywolves to go into a 12-0 run sparked by Jayson Florence Abejo that cut their lead to just 10 points, 53-43.

Rasmo sent in his big men Michael Jay Cutamora and Christian Manaytay but the Greywolves continued to come closer at just 7 points, 50-57, when John Benedick Damolo sank 3 of his 4 back-to-back charities inside the last two minutes of the ballgame.

With just 43 seconds left, Rasmo called for a timeout and encouraged his players to play defense.

“Just stay focused, just stay on the game, and just keep playing defense, thats it,” Rasmo told his players.

The Magis Eagles followed their coach instructions and ended the game in their favor, 58-50.

Jhon Benedict Yu topscored for the Magis Eagles with 11 points.

Abejo scored 15 for the Greywolves with Jomari James Ranuco adding 13 points.

In the collegiate game, defending champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers extended their streak to two with a 92-79 routing of the USPF Panthers.

While the Green Lancers are now enjoying their second straight win after dropping their season opening game, the Panthers absorbed their second straight loss after winning their first game.

Leading the Green Lancers rout was reigning CESAFI MVP Rey Anthony Suerte who had 21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Contributing much were Josue Segumpan, who had 16 points, and Tristan Ray Albina with 13 points.

The Panthers was led by Lyndon Colina with 17 points. Adding 11 points each were John Paul Nino Batac and Lugie Cuyos while Kenneth Cada chipped in 10 points.

Scores – High School

SHS-AdC Magis Eagles (58) – JB Yu 11, Manaytay 9, Cutamora 7, Diaz 6, Velasco 6, PW Yu 6, Chua 4, Visser 4, Gesalem 3, Tuadles 2.

DBTC Greywolves (50) – Abejo 15, Ranuco 13, Damolo 8, Dela Torre 5, Malubay 5, Siona 2, Boyboy 2.

College

UV Green Lancers (92) – Suerte 21, Segumpan 16, Albina 13, Napao 12, Soliva 10, Gahi 8, Balabag 6, Tarrosa 4, Maestre 2.

USPF Panthers (79) – Colina 17, Batac 11, Cuyos 11, Cada 10, Quiachon 7, Villarta 7, Cauba 6, Avanceña 5, Ranceli 3, Mangyao 2. – Rappler.com