THE massive Chooks-to-Go SBP 3x3 Basketball Tournament was a dream come true for the young athletes from Sisters of Mary School (SMS-Boystown) and SMS-Girlstown who are raring to get an exposure on an event with such a magnitude.
The two-day record-breaking event saw about 3,000 students from both schools play a record number of simultaneous games that should shatter the standing Fiba 3x3 mark of 1,898 participants in an Under-18 tournament. The organizers are now waiting for the official decision from Fiba.
Van Halen Parmis, SMS Boystown athletic director, told SunStar Cebu that it was the kind of exposure that the SMS-Boystown and SMS-Girlstown have been waiting for.
The tournament was played on Saturday and Sunday at the SMS-Boystown in Minglanilla and SMS-Girlstown in Talisay City.
“It’a dream come true, it was like a gift of father Al (Aloysius Schwartz), the founder of Sisters of Mary,” said Parmis, who received the offer to host the event when he coached the Visayas champion SMS-Boystown in a Tathulan 3x3 event in Manila.
It was not only about the record as the students played for the country with the goal to boost the Philippines Fiba ranking in 3x3 basketball.
“Our hard work turned into opportunity. It was a good exposure for the students as we aim to improve our sports program here. We’re very happy to be recognized by SBP and Chooks-to-Go,” said Parmis.
Team B8-Leg 4 of Joefrrey Ramiso, Argie Basaya, Dennis Gantaloa and Alunar Escraman captured the boys’ overall crown after beating Team B46-Leg2 of John Vincent Valenzona, Jimboy Roxas, Ralph Kendrick Delposo and Mark Anthony Gidayawan in the finals.
In the girls’ division, Team Leg 6- G1 composed of twins Gleafel and Gleagen Janier, Aiana Apostol and Desiree Salvado won the title via overtime win over Team Leg-4 G of Jane Madria, Janefier Mahusay, Jenny Amor and Ivy Garnica in the finals.
The event had 1,588 players from Girlstown and 1,111 players from Boystown.
Aside from bringing the massive basketball event to Cebu, the event’s major backer, Chooks-to-Go, donated P100,000 cash incentive each for the SMS-Boystown and SMS-Girlstown. The company also pledged to give a monthly donation of P100,000 “to help the school continue on what they are doing.”
“For the two years journey of the sports program started by the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission, we have reached a milestone and perhaps made history in setting a world record for the most kids playing 3x3,” said Parmis.
With the recent feat, the sports program is not resting on their laurel. The school’s next goal now is to make an impact in the annual Milo Little Olympics Visayas Leg.
“This is the dream of the kids, the Little Olympics. We hope we can emulate what the Sisters of Mary Cavite branch has done. They have been dominant in this event for the past 20 years,” he said.