ILOCOS NORTE – The battle was fierce, the stakes were high, and Davao answered the call.
The Ateneo de Davao-powered Eagles unleashed a dominant second-half surge to seize their first-ever Palaro gold medal, overwhelming Western Visayas 67-51 in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa secondary boys basketball finals at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena.
Determined to make history, Davao took control early, charging ahead 15-8 in the first quarter. But Western Visayas struck back with their sharpshooting ace, Luke Rose, who lit up the second period with 13 points, including three deadly triples, cutting the deficit to just three at halftime, 27-24.
That’s when Jhonmark Pelegrino and Rene Clert Baterbonia decided enough was enough. The rising duo torched the court, erupting in the second half to crush Western Visayas’ dreams. Baterbonia spearheaded a massive 14-3 run, pushing Davao’s lead to 41-27, before Pelegrino landed the knockout blow in the final quarter, unloading eight of their last 10 points to seal the victory in spectacular fashion!
“Sobrang overwhelmed ko ngayon, sobrang happy ko pero si Lord lahat ‘yun. Lahat naman ng teams nagpa-practice at nagsa-sacrifice everyday pero sinu-surrender namin lahat kay Lord,” said an emotional Davao head coach Jess Evangelio.
Victory didn’t come easy, but Davao’s relentless spirit, unbreakable teamwork, and unwavering faith propelled them to a flawless championship run, sweeping through eliminations and toppling Northern Mindanao and Central Luzon before claiming the crown.
