Monday, October 27, 2008 Living Heritage cagers top area meet tourney By Henry C. Villalva
LIVING Heritage Christian Academy cagers mentored by Nimer Nierves and managed by Pastor Felicisimo 'Vhoy' Arzaga drubbed University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos de Talisay, 93-74, to pocket Saturday the secondary boys basketball championship crown of the 2nd Association of Negros Occidental Private Schools & School Administrators Inc. (ANOPSSAI) 2008 Area Meet held at the Panaad Sports & Recreational Park Complex covered court.
Altine Tupas and Wyatt Michael topscored with 16 points apiece and got scoring support from Jeffrey Ascura with 15, Cedrick Debide with 14, and Melchor Cordero with 11 in the well deserved win.
Nike Montalbo chipped in with seven points, Marjun Centino with six, and Stanley Mengullo with four for the win.
First runner-up UNO-R de Talisay was representing Area I in the ANOPSSAI, which also includes several former NOPSSCEA member-schools, particularly those located in the southern and northern parts of the province.
LHCA also used to campaign in the NOPSSCEA and emerged champion of the pre-NOPSSCEA LNA7 Sports Foundation Inc. 17-Under basketball tournament recently staged at the West Negros University Gym, which it won at the expense of pre-tournament favorite Mansilingan Christian Academy in the finals.
The LHCA team has former UNO-R Ram standout Joemarie Bayhon as assistant coach to Nierves who mentored the Barangay Taculing Under-19 team that finished runner-up to champion Villamonte in the last Monico Cup Under-19 Inter-Barangay basketball tournament.
"We are very thankful to our players for their dedication and commitment to training and also to their parents for their support and we hope we will likewise do good in future tournaments where the team will be seeing action representing ANOPSSAI," said an elated Pastor Vjoy Arzaga.
Meanwhile, Dr. Luisito Escalona, the Department of Education Negros Occidental assistant division superintendent who represented Dr. Rizalino Tortosa during the ANOPSSAI 2008 Area Meet opening ceremonies last Thursday at Panaad, challenged athletes during his inspirational talk "to be conscious of the fact that sports unites people," and also reminded them that as athletes they are "models of excellence."
Over 300 athletes representing the various ANOPSSAI sub-areas from various parts of the province participated in the two-day area meet.
