UNDERDOG PNP Press Corps on Wednesday morning, May 23, completed a Cinderella run to win this year’s basketball championship of the Cagayan de Oro Media Week Sportsfest at Brgy. 24 covered court.
After yielding to powerhouse KBP/ABS-CBN by 18 points (62-80) in the elimination round, the PNP dribblers of team manager Michael “MIB” Bustamante bounced back from the loser’s bracket to defeat host and defending champion Cagayan de Oro Press Club, 66-44.
In a rematch with unbeaten KBP for the crown, the PNP hoopsters were lagging behind most of the way. But a determined effort in the final half broke the game wide-open with PNP getting the better of the Wesley Daculiat-led KBP in the endgame squabble for the reversal of fortune, 81-74 and take back the media cage title it last held some three years ago.
“Mora’g tsamba pero gitugot man gyod sa panahon nga magmadaugon,” gasped Bombo Jerome Bacud after the pulsating win anchored by the bull-strong Salvo, Kauffman, Pet Gambe, Popoy Yburan, Jerry Camugao, `Alapag’ Bustamante and Stev Panaz, among others.
PNP Press Corps guard Lynde Salgados earlier ruled the individual chess event, while Barsopia, Nolasco and Jong Yburan powered the PNP’s titular finish in badminton.
Radyo Natin’s Ronald Rupin handed COPC’s first victory in dart competition as KBP topped volleyball in the last championship game of the day.
“We won chess, badminton and basketball so, kita sa PNP Press Corps and overall champion for this year’s media week sportsfest,” Bustamante said.