The Calabarzon Heroes (Region IV‑A) are the new kings of secondary boys’ basketball in the 2026 Palarong Pambansa, pulling off a convincing 79–62 victory over the defending champions Davao Eagles on Saturday.
Fans began lining up outside the EOC Gymnasium as early as 4:00 a.m., and the home crowd was rewarded with a fiery Davao start. The Eagles exploded to a 12–0 lead and held an 18–12 cushion after the opening quarter.
But Calabarzon slowly settled in, found its rhythm, and seized control in the second half. Once the Heroes’ offense clicked, they broke the game open and never looked back.
The Heroes had to overcome not only the reigning champions—led by last year’s MVP, Rene Clert Baterbonia of Agusan del Sur—but also a heavily partisan Davao crowd that roared with every Eagles highlight.
Coach Jasper Philip Magno, whose squad is composed of student‑athletes from St. John’s Wort Integrated School in Antipolo, said their quiet preparation paid off.
“Tahimik lang kaming nagpe-prepare. Deserve ng mga batang ’to ang panalong ’to. Alam namin yung capabilities namin kahit maraming hindi nakakakilala sa amin,” Magno said.
One Calabarzon player who drew unexpected attention was Dairick Duterte, whose surname prompted cheers and playful reactions from the crowd.
“Sobrang saya ko po dahil hindi po ako taga‑dito. Sinisigaw po yung apelyido ko at nagpapasalamat po ako kay God,” he shared.
Teammate Ali Mamuag admitted they felt the weight of facing the defending champions—especially as underdogs.
“Nag-recover lang kami sa pag‑communicate with my teammates. Nagtulong‑tulong kami paano kami makakabalik sa ginawa ng DAVRAA sa amin,” he said.
With composure, teamwork, and a second‑half surge, Calabarzon completed the upset and claimed the 2026 crown.
