Early favorite, Alaminos City-Local Government Unit Basketball Team took the opening game of the First Congressional Inter-Basketball Tournament held at Plaza Marcelo Ochave here yesterday.
The city’s cagers were a bit tentative in the early going but managed to bring out their A-game in the second half and rolled pass Agno Team with a final score of 96-92.
In other games, Bani trounced Anda, 78-58 while Bolinao drubbed Burgos, 74-63.
More basketball games are scheduled this week and in the coming months with all the ten teams equally enjoying a home court advantage.
Championship games are slated on Christmas Day in still an undisclosed venue.
During the opening program, Mayor Hernani A. Braganza lauded the League of Mayors of the Philippines (LMP)-Western Pangasinan Chapter headed by its President, Mayor Domingo Doctor of Burgos for organizing said tournament.
Other local executives who graced the tournament kick-off were Mayors Nestor Pulido (Anda), Titus Reyes (Mabini), Arthur Cabantac (Agno), Alfonso Celeste (Bolinao) and Ruperto Martinez (Infanta) and several vice mayors, administrator and town councilors.
Braganza said the LGU workforce really needs to engage in a healthier lifestyle to be able to serve better and longer the government and their townmates.
“Aside from the basic values and tenets learned in sports, we could even gain more friends,” added the Mayor.
But more importantly, according to Vice Mayor Teofilo G. Humilde Jr., the said tournament “will further strengthen our unity and kinship as one big family of dedicated and committed civil servants.”
The league’s initiative was inspired by the Alaminos LGU-Family Sports Festival which the Braganza administration has initiated and launched in 2005.
All the departments and offices in both the executive and legislative branch of the city LGU competed in the friendly yet competitive games.
These include basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, and lawn tennis. There are also mind games such chess, word factory, scrabble and game of the general.
The city’s sporting event, according to Jose Elvis TC. Sison, HIYSC adviser, was conceived by Mayor Braganza to encourage the government employees to enter into sports.
The said activity also serves as an avenue for those active employees to achieve sound mind and body through worthwhile activities such as sports.
Sison said his office is currently reviewing its plan for this year’s edition of LGU-Family sportsfest.
He added that the tournament will adhere to some innovations and will likely to focus on more of team event to underscore oneness and camaraderie among the employees.
Meanwhile, the triumphant Alaminos Team that made the city proud anew in the recently concluded 10th Milo Little Olympics for Luzon was likewise presented and honored on the said program.
Mayor Braganza even personally awarded cash incentives to the coaches and all the medalists led by badminton champ- Gabriel Miguel Sison, who was named as one of the best athletes in the Milo Little Olympics.
This is the fourth time that the city’s team has found their mark in the regional tournament that include the Ilocos Region Athletic Association Meet, Region I Inter-School Taekwondo Championship, the Best of the Best Samsung Invitational and the Milo Little Olympics.
Thanks largely to the comprehensive sports development program initiated by the city government, Alaminos is now starting to produce the best athletes that are at par with the best in the country.
For his vision, unwavering support and assistance to the city’s young athletes Mayor Braganza received a plaque of recognition from the Hundred Islands Taekwondo Club. (CIO)