Former teammate of Scottie Thompson steers Davao to maiden Palaro HS basketball title

ILOCOS NORTE - Jess Evangelio accomplished what he fell short of 15 years ago, only this time he's wearing a different hat for Davao. 

In 2010, Evangelio was part of the Region 11 delegation for Palarong Pambansa secondary boys basketball in Tarlac, joining hands with then aspirant Scottie Thompson, who would eventually become the face of Barangay Ginebra in the PBA.

They would have an impressive run en route to a quarterfinals appearance, but they eventually fell to Cebu to bow out of contention. 

After 15 years, Evangelio returned to the same stage and took home the gold hardware this time around. 

Now the coach of the Davao Eagles, Evangelio steered the region to its maiden high school basketball gold medal after they dominated Western Visayas in the finals, 67-51, behind Jhonmark Pelegrino and Rene Clert Baterbonia. 

Both the rising stars churned out 19 points to power Davao's second half pullaway, which saw them turn a tight affair in the first half into a lopsided victory. 

"Actually since 2016 nagco-coach na ako sa Ateneo de Davao so after nine years pa bago ako makaabot dito sa gold medal. Nine years in the making, every year since 2016 ito ‘yung goal namin," Evangelio said. 

"Very nostalgic nga sa akin ang feeling sa Palarong Pambansa kasi frustrated player ako nu’ng first Palaro ko and at least nakuha ko na ‘yung ultimate goal ko."

But the victory was more than just winning it all. 

According to Evangelio, who has been at the helm of Ateneo de Davao since 2016 after deciding not to continue his playing career anymore and instead get into coaching, the gold medal meant a lot to the region. 

Aside from Thompson, Davao has also produced a number of basketball stars like PJ Simon, Baser Amer, Alvin Pasaol, and Migs Oczon, and the gold medal now serves as a testament to the quality of basketball in the region. 

Evangelio hopes the Palaro feat can also entice homegrown players to hone their skills there before leaving for Manila. 

"Siguro it means everything talaga kasi nga history ‘yung nagawa namin na mag-champion sa Palarong Pambansa secondary boys," Evangelio added.

"Kami ‘yung first-ever team na makagawa nito. Hopefully, tumaas pa ‘yung competition sa Davao. Hopefully, piliin ng mga players na magpahinog at mag-stay sa Davao bago umakyat sa NCR."

READ | Palarong Pambansa medal tally

—JKC, GMA Integrated News