New Lifers Complete Historic Three-Peat in PCYAA Season 13 Basketball
MGC New Life Christian Academy (MGCNLCA) completed a historic three-peat after a season defined both by dominance and resilience in the Philippine Ching Yuen Athletic Association (PCYAA) Season 13 Juniors Basketball championship last March 21 at the UNO High School Gym.
From a commanding 8–0 win-loss record in the elimination round to a Finals series that tested their depth and composure, the New Lifers held their ground through every game.
“After the final buzzer sounded, all the moments we’ve spent as a team came back to my mind,” Riley Frederick Hui said as he reflected on the season. “Whether it was the wins, losses, the hours of practice, or hardships, it reminded me how the journey was all worth it in the end.”
Sharing a similar sense of reflection, Adrian Steven Tan expressed his gratitude for his final run as a New Lifer.
“This championship was probably the most challenging and memorable yet. The journey wasn't easy, but looking back now, it was all worth it,” he said. “More than the wins, I’ll always carry the memories and the bond I built with this team. We all worked hard to secure the three-peat and I’m proud to leave behind a legacy.”
Echoing these sentiments, Team Captain Adam Keith Uy emphasized the team’s unity and perseverance throughout their run. “Since day one, we’ve always given our all and done our best. We worked hard, trusted each other, and stayed focused (in) every game. We’re thankful for the opportunity to play for MGCNLCA and for the Lord. Thank you to everyone who believed in us and supported us. Three years in a row, and we’re still champions.”
This game shattered multiple league records, becoming the first four-overtime match in PCYAA history, as well as the longest and highest-scoring Finals game with a combined 217 points.
Indeed, MGCNLCA has etched its name into PCYAA history.
Survival of the fittest
Heading into the Finals series with a spotless record, the New Lifers were tested by Pace Academy, trailing 30-32 after the first half.
But the third quarter marked a turning point as the New Lifers returned to the court with defensive intensity. Kurt Malcolm Sotingco dominated the paint and scored eight out of his 14 points to give the green shirts a 53-47 advantage at the end of the third frame.
The final frame kept the entire crowd on the edge of their seats as Pace Academy tied the game 57-57 through a lay-up by Kenneth Chen. With just three minutes remaining and momentum shifting in Pace’s favor, the New Lifers seemed to be headed for their first defeat of the season.
However, this only fueled the New Lifers as Hui scored multiple buckets, helping the New Lifers go on a 6-0 scoring run and secure a 69-64 edge against the Pacers.
Hui dropped 19 points, while Sotingco anchored the paint with a dominant double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Now with a chance to complete a season sweep in Game 2 of the series, the New Lifers were determined to keep their feet on the gas and prevent Pace from forcing a decider.
Game 2 turned into one of the most unforgettable battles in PCYAA history, with MGCNLCA prevailing in the end, 110-107, after the first quadruple overtime the league has seen.
The New Lifers came out sharp, executing offensive plays with precision to build a 17-point cushion at 41-24, but Pace answered with a 4-11 scoring run to end the first half, 45-35.
But the pace of the game changed in the second half as the blue shirts relentlessly attacked the rim, eventually closing the gap in the fourth quarter, 74-74.
Then adversity struck as Sotingco fouled out with 46 seconds left in regulation.
With the score at a 74-all deadlock, the game was pushed into its first overtime—marking the beginning of the historic overtime marathon.
Lightning struck twice as Uy also fouled out in the first overtime, forcing MGCNLCA to adjust without its captain and anchor in the paint.
With the pressure mounting and trailing 74-83, Hui took over, delivering two crucial triples to keep the New Lifers alive and force a second overtime at 83-all.
But the challenges continued as Hui also fouled out in the third overtime, pushing the bench to step up, forcing a fourth overtime, 102-102.
With their core players sidelined, the game shifted into a battle of endurance as Jacoby Orik Tan, Jego Mayer Tan, and Gabriel Isaac Liao put the clamps on, refusing to let the Pacers find any offensive rhythm.
With both teams struggling to convert, Lucas David Lo knocked down a clutch mid-range jumper to give MGCNLCA a 109-107 lead, which was followed by Jacoby Tan calmly sinking a shot from the charity stripe with 4.4 seconds remaining.
The Pacers made one last push but to no avail as the final buzzer capped off the thriller, 110-107, crowning the New Lifers as the three-peat champions for the first time in the league’s history.
Hui finished with 31 points, with 24 markers coming from deep, earning him the Finals MVP honors. Adrian Tan delivered an “Iron Man” performance, being on the hardcourt for 59 minutes and 51 seconds while recording a dominant 22-point, 20-rebound double-double.
Uy and Adrian Tan were also recognized as part of the PCYAA Mythical 5.
With the New Lifers at the helm once again, they have no intention of resting on their laurels. As their hunt for a fourth championship next season begins, they have never looked more dangerous.
The climb to the summit
MGCNLCA opened its campaign in dominant fashion, dismantling Saint Jude Catholic School, 89–44, in a statement victory that immediately set the tone for the tournament.
If the opening game established their presence, their 67-40 victory over Jubilee Christian Academy (JCA) confirmed it. The New Lifers started off the game strong with a 14-0 scoring streak, controlling the game from start to finish and not allowing JCA to take the lead.
From there, the New Lifers sustained their momentum, overwhelming schools with an average winning margin of 25 points. They finished the eliminations undefeated at 8–0, securing the top seed and a direct berth to the semifinals.
Armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, the top-seeded New Lifers faced Hope Christian High School (HCHS) in the semifinals. Despite concerns of rust after a two-week break, MGCNLCA proved that they don’t get rusty; they get ready.
After the first two points scored by HCHS, the New Lifers kept their lead with their trademark defensive pressure and never looked back, forcing multiple turnovers and converting them into 25 points to keep HCHS at bay en route to an 83–65 victory.
Leading the charge was Team Captain Uy, who finished with 24 points. Uy averaged the second-highest amount of points in the league during the eliminations, with an average of 23.3 points per game. He was also the second-highest in the three-point leaderboard with an average of 3.3 three-pointers made per game.