TROPHIES and cash prizes were awarded to winners of the recently held 2nd Mayor’s Cup Inter-Barangay Youth Basketball Championship and Seniors Inter-Barangay Basketball Tournament at the People’s Gym in the city.

According to Paul Puri, head of the Angeles City Sports Office (Acpo), 28 teams participated in the Mayor’s Cup while 17 teams took part in the Seniors Inter-Barangay of the month long competition which started last April 4. This tournament was organized by the Acpo.

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The inter-barangay basketball tournament was conducted for the benefit of the youth in keeping the mandate under Republic Act (RA) 7160, which calls for the conduct of citywide games for traditional and international-played sports.

Also, it is in the mandate of the Sangguniang Kabataan’s youth and sports development program, Puri added.

Barangay Pulungbulu emerged as winner in the Mayor’s Cup championship last May 13, while the Seniors Inter-Barangay tournament champion is Barangay Cutcut.

In the Mayor’s Cup individual awards, Arcade Mamangun was awarded as Most Valuable Player (MVP) while awards were also given to Carlo Pangilinan (Best Forward), Paola Sampang (Best Center), Jerald Dizon (Best Defensive Player), Romeo Policarpio (Best Guard) and Ramil Garcia as Best Coach.

As in the Seniors Inter-Barangay individual awards: MVP went to Marco
Bati of San Nicolas while other awards were given to Mark Rosita (Final MVP), Louie Sendin (Best Forward), Willie Mejia (Best Center), Tim Dungca (Best Defensive Player), Dusty Ronquillo (Best Guard), and Ambet Gumabon (Best Coach).

According to Angeles City Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno, the tournament aims to build sportsmanship and camaraderie among the players.

“This will improve individual talents by conducting friendly sports competitions and sharing their time with each other. This will also divert the attention of some wayward youth from the evil effects of drugs and alcohol and at the same time, even create a pool of future professional athletes,” Nepomuceno said.

He added that they are continually implementing their sports development program to bring sports closer to the heart of residents here to provide a level of competition for them to attain teamwork and unity.