3 Seasons, 1 Team, 1 Legacy: Basketball Seniors’ Farewell Game
Before they hang up their green and white jerseys for good, Adam Keith Uy, Adrian Steven Tan, Jacoby Orik Tan, Jedidiah Zion Chee Ah, Miles Vincent Co, and Sean Liam Xavier Panganiban played one last exhibition game against this year’s new 18-Under (18U) basketball team on July 24 at the same gymnasium they called their second home for all the years they spent in it.
The game kicked off with an early uninterrupted ten points from Adrian Tan. However, they struggled to continue their momentum against the relentless 18U team as Kurt Malcolm Sotingco topped off the younger team’s scoring run with a bucket to end the first frame with a 21-28 advantage.
But the graduates pushed through the juniors who had been training non-stop, ending the first half with a 39-38 advantage.
The seniors carried their momentum in the second half and found an opening in scoring as they faced the newer, younger additions of the 18U, gaining a comfortable 55-44 lead heading into the final salvo.
Despite a 9-0 18U run to trim the gap in the fourth quarter, experience proved to be the difference maker as the graduates bid farewell to the community with a 68-66 win over their successors.
After the game, championship rings were awarded to last year’s 18U team players and coaching staff by School Principal Evangeline Co, School Administrator Joanna Uy, and Student Affairs and Welfare Head Rhenee Victoria Sy.
“We just wanted to do something for the next generation to witness what brotherhood is all about and to just feature and highlight what they've been through all these years,” said longtime basketball parent Edison Lo, one of the organizers of the exhibition game.
In his farewell speech, Former Captain Adam Uy thanked the parents for their support in him and his teammates’ basketball journeys.
“Years from now, we probably won't remember every score or every statistic, but we'll remember all the car rides, the conversations, the jokes at practice, and the brotherhood that we built. And those are memories that will stay in my heart forever,” said Uy. “Thank you for every morning wake-up call, every ride to practice, every meal, every game you came to watch, every prayer you heard in the morning, and every word of encouragement after a tough loss, and every single sacrifice that you made for us.”
He reminded the juniors to continue the culture previous seniors have passed on and to uphold the values that have been instilled in every New Lifer: to strive for character and for excellence.
“Work hard, even when nobody's watching. Respect your coaches, and most importantly, honor your parents. Play for your teammates, play for the school, and most importantly, play for the glory of God,” Uy said.
Uy passed on the torch to Sotingco, who was named the new team captain. He assured the seniors that the new team will continue the winning culture that several batches of New Lifers have built over the years.
“To the seniors, thank you for everything you have done for this team. What we have built together over the years goes beyond just being teammates; we have grown to become brothers that will always support you, and no matter where you go, you will always be a part of this basketball family,” expressed Sotingco