Iponan cagers in impressive start

YOUNG gunners prevailed over the veterans on Saturday’s opening of the 2nd Mayor’s Cup Inter- Barangay basketball tournament at the Bulua gym here.

With no less than Misamis Oriental 2nd district Representative Yevgeny “Bambi” Emano watching the games from start to finish, Barangay Iponan submerged Barangay Puntod, 97-74, as Gusa flirted with defeat before overcoming Macabalan, 82-79, in the twin-bill tussles for the Open division.

Meanwhile, Barangay Puerto’s 110-104 overtime win over Barangay Agusan in the 18-under category will be most memorable to them as virtually the entire entourage of Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano was among the spectators.

City Councilors Alexander Dacer, Adrian Barba, Alden Bacal, President Elipe, Emmanuel Abejuela, Juan Sia and Pepe Abbu included.

In fact, the Emanos (Dongkoy, Bambi and City Councilor Nadia Emano-Elipe) endured watching the preliminary match standing off the courtside.

“Lig-on pa kaayo’g tuhod ang mayor kay wala man gyo’y lingkoray. Nalingaw pud gyod siya sa dula sa mga batan-on,” tournament director Gerry “Boboy” Sabal said.

Enjoying the full support of their brgy. chair “Lady Gaga” Brellita, the youthful and good-looking Iponan cagers played confidently as they easily built a commanding lead with Junjun Daanoy debuting with a game-high 41 points and Daigdigan chipping in 15 markers.

“Ang instruction ko lang sa akong mga baby nga dili sila mabun-og sa dula. Gamay raman sab among ambisyon ini nga liga. Kanang makasulod lang mi sa Xavier University gym,” the always-jolly Brellita said in jest.

Veteran slotman Gilbert Magdugo was no longer his old self but his shooting touch was still there that netted for him 20 points for Puntod’s losing cause.

“Medyo bagal na si Tasyo (Magdugo) pero maintain gihapon ang pulso,” said Sabal’s sidekick Chinglai Casiño, who was also amazed by the presence of the ageless pointguard Arnel Bag-ao and former junior standout Ruysdale “Ading” Lubrico in the league.

Erstwhile, XU Crusaders standout Bee Datuinginoo found his range early in the three-point arc as Gusa enjoyed a double-digit lead most of the way before the troika of Canen, Azucenas and Managing conspired in a searing rally that was almost completed in the killer stretch.

“Lisod ang mga veterans kumpyansaan kay nay mga milagro basta makadikit lang sa score. Abi nako’g maparehas sa first game,” Sabal said in recounting Puerto’s come-from-behind victory.

Down by 7 points with only 2 minutes to go in the regular period, the never-say-die Puerto hoopsters applied a full-court press defense that resulted in a spate of Agusan turnovers. They managed to force an overtime and lung in for a kill in the extra minutes to break the hearts of the shocked Agusan troopers.

Still, Congressman Bambi Emano picked reigning titlist Lapasan as the team to beat in the Open division.

“With Tagupa (Ramil) and the Deña brothers around, I think Lapasan gihapon ang team to beat sa Open division kay mga season unya team-work na pud kayo sila. Iponan and Bonbon are but among the exciting challengers for the obvious reason nga naa sa ila si Daanoy ug Boning Biongcog,” the younger Emano told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.