PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur - Quite a few were left in the dark as to which school comprised CALABARZON’s lineup in the 2026 Palarong Pambansa.
And yet, here Region IV-A is, getting its fairytale ending to its Cinderella run by pulling off a 79-62 shocker against fancied Davao on Saturday morning at the EOC Evacuation Center of the Datu Lipus Makapandong Governor D.O. Plaza Sports Complex here.
Just to make things clear, CALABARZON isn’t backstopped by usual suspect San Beda. Instead, it’s first-timer St. John's Wort Integrated School (SJWIS) making up much of an unknown roster compared to the likes of Region XI (Ateneo de Davao), Region III (Pampanga DELTA), and National Capital Region (University of the East).
But the boys of Region IV-A sure did make a name for themselves in the annual showcase of student-athlete talent, flying under the radar all the way to great heights as newly-crowned kings.
Duterte owns Davao
Dairick Duterte did damage once more and not even Rene ‘Bobet’ Baterbonia, last year’s MVP and hometown hero, could do anything about it.
It was Duterte, the bulky, headstrong forward, who pounded in eight points, majority coming against Baterbonia, in a 14-3 run that increased CALABARZON’s four-point edge into a 57-42 lead at the 3:33 mark of the third quarter.
"Sobrang saya po dahil 'di po namin akalaing makakarating kami rito. Sinipagan lang po namin at nakinig lang po kami sa sistema ng coach namin. Para sa'min daw talaga 'to basta sundin namin tinuturo nila. Ayun, sinunod po namin, ito po ang resulta," said Duterte, who confirmed that he is a distant relative to former President Rodrigo Duterte, after scoring 21 points.
Mackie Peligrino pulled Davao to as close as three, 56-59, with 6:22 left only to see Rainheart Panaligan and Ali Matthew Mamauag join forces in a 20-6 finishing kick that took the sails out of Region XI and the Mindanaoan crowd behind it.
Mamauag and Panaligan wound up with 18 and 17 points, respectively
"Sa totoo lang po, although alam ko na naghanda yung mga player namin, 'di pa rin ako makapaniwala. Ang ine-expect ko lang talaga is lalaban kami kahit kanino. 'Di ko ine-expect na aabot kami sa ganito," said mentor Jasper Magno, who is just two years into his coaching career for the varsity team of a little-known school in Antipolo.
"'Di ko talaga alam. Alam ko lang, masaya ako, deserve ng mga bata 'to, pinaghirapan nila 'to. Lahat ng 'to, dahil sa kanila, sobrang sipag."
To get to the Palaro, SJWIS first had to come out on top of the Red Cubs, who historically dominates the Southern Tagalog Regional Athletic Association.
Once in AgSur, CALABARZON swept the group stage before getting the better of Ilocos in the quarterfinals then Central Luzon in the semifinals.
Few gave them a chance opposite a Davao side coming off a takedown of NCR, but against all odds, they won their region's first secondary boys' basketball championship in 10 years, when Evan Nelle led them to victory.
Region XI's silver medal effort was fronted by Pelegrino who fired 30 points. It missed the usual contributions of Baterbonia who was held to 10 markers, as well as JM Sanoria who went scoreless.
In the bronze medal match, NCR topped Central Luzon to salvage a podium finish.
The Scores:
CALABARZON (79) - Duterte 21, Mamauag 18, Panaligan 17, San Diego 7, Valencia 6, Gonzales 3, Lugue 3, Mayor 2, Seño 2
DAVAO (62) - Peligrino 30, Baterbonia 10, Cayetano 7, Luague 6, Bayanban 6, Estandarte 2, Damag 1
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