APALIT -- With a theme "Apalit Away sa Adik, Kaya sa Sports Tatangkilik," 12 barangays in this first class municipality have joined the 2nd JDT's Cup, which formally opened on Sunday.

Mayor Jun Tetangco Jr. told Sun.Star that the basketball tournament aims to promote sports development among Apaliteños in all the barangays here as well as to promote the town's campaign against illegal drugs.

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Tetangco said the barangays officials are the front-runners in the fight against illegal drugs and other forms of criminality with the help of the local government and the police.

"That is why we are doing this to promote and camaraderie at sportsmanship among our constituents as well as to fight the proliferation of illegal drugs in our municipality. I'm proud to say that since we assume office drug pushers and users have been driven away," he said.

The mayor added that it is not only winning, which is important but rather how one plays the game that matters the most.

"I hope Jojo Duncil will become a role model of Apaliteños. Jojo played inter barangays in this basketball, but now has become one of the star cagers of Red Bull barako in Philippine basketball League," Tetangco said.

Vice Mayor Peter Nucom, for his part, said that all the team players were given free uniform and basketballs courtesy of Tetangco.

Nucom added that this year's first prize is P100,000, 2nd prize P50,000, 3rd prize P30,000, and 4th prize P20,000. All the muses of the 12 teams were given P1,000 each.

Councilor Jun Sigua said the JDTs Cup's opening ceremony was a success, as all village chairmen, kagawads (councilmen), barangay tanods (watchmen) and some 1,000 local folk coming from Barangays San Juan, San Vicente, Tabuyuc, Paligui, Sulipan, Sucad, Balucuc, Sampaloc, Cansinala, Capalangan, Colgante and Calantipe came in for the event.

Also present was former PBA superstar and no City of San Fernando Councilor Ato Agustin. (Chris Navarro)