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Sunday, July 27, 2003
Garcia: Mangaldan training pool bared
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
LAST time Pangasinan held a province wide basketball tournament was in 2001. The three-month long tournament was organized by then Pangasinan SK Federation President BM Marie Antonette Villar.
Nineteen municipalities and three cities (except Dagupan, I don't know why) out of 49 fielded one team each. Surprisingly San Carlos City captured the tiara, their first after many tries. Underdog Mangaldan and one of the shortest teams bagged the first runner-up plum. Defending and perennial champion Alaminos City and judged as the tallest of all the entries landed third.
I was there and covered 101 games out of 112 and printed the results on this paper.
The tournament (for 25 years old and below) was defunct last year. But lately I was informed from a reliable source that the off-and-on annual cagefest would be revived (again) this year under the organization of the new Pangasinan SK Federation President Jolly Resuello, Jr. tentatively to start on October. The new format is for 19 years old and below players only.
Despite the debacle and the ugliness (due to age and residential frauds -- to name the few -- which the organizers not able to solve) of the Mangaldan SK Inter-Barangay Basketball Tournament held last February and ended just last month, this first class municipality is contemplating a plan again to enter the province wide tourney which I believe more teams to participate than in 2001. I was also told that Dagupan City, considered the mecca in basketball joins the battles this year. My source said the venues could be Dagupan People's Astrodome, NRSCC in Lingayen and San Carlos City, the place of the young Resuello.
I had a chit-chat with the Mangaldan appointed head coach, Danny Villanueva, last Thursday evening saying that starting today (Saturday), the Mangaldan training pool team composed of 20 dribblers selected from different barangays during the four-month skirmishes kick off their practice at the Macario Ydia Development Center. Villanueva, who also steered the 2001 Mangaldan squad, said, "from 20, it will be downed to 15 members to be officially and finally chosen to represent Mangaldan. Twelve regular players and three alternates."
He averred that it's not only the ability of a good player who should be drafted for the team but it's the 'discipline' that counts most.
I raise my glass to that.
There's a sporting adage that says, "champions are not born, they are developed." This is very logical.
Although he forgot to bring the official list of the group and can't remember the first name of his other players, he is happy to name them all, they are: Sherwin Ariola (Malabago), Rod Natavio (Guesang), Macmac Magalong (Amansabina), his son Danny Villanueva, Jr. and Wilmar Espinoza (Guilig), Potpot Mejia, Ian Samson and Meneses (Poblacion), Doria, Santos and Abalos (Maasin), Mataban (Bari), Barrozo and de Vera (Anolid), Charles Padilla, Norberto Carino, Marlon Tambalgue, Alexis Aquino and my son Elcid Garcia (Buenlag).
And believe it or not, my first child Jazy, owner of Jazy Sportswear was said to co-sponsor this Mangaldan quintet.
Can they win the championship since they were the first runner-up last year?
Nobody knows, especially now Dagupan City is determined to enter the tilt.
Let's wait and see. You will know the result on this paper.
(July 26, 2003 issue)
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