IN A bizarre turn of events, the PNP Press Corp got the crown in the 2019 Cagayan de Oro Press Freedom Week basketball tournament, which concluded Wednesday, May 29, at the Capitol grounds in Cagayan de Oro City.
This, after all teams disagreed on practically “everything” dictated by the “unwritten rules” of the tournament, except giving way to PNP Press Corp of team manager Michael Bustamante despite it losing to KBP in their only elimination round game.
“I can’t understand why dili modula ang COPC (Cagayan de Oro Press Club) team sa amo in a round-robin affair which should be fair enough to everyone,” said Bustamante, who willingly signed the agreement made by the unbeaten KBP and the winless COPC camp, offering the basketball win to PNP Press Corp dribblers.
The KBP cagers, who drubbed both the PNP and COPC teams for a 2-0 record, was relegated instead to a runner-up finish.
“Okay na dili mo-champion kay di gyod magpa-peldi ang PNP,” one disgruntled player was overheard as saying.
“As tournament director, ako man ang magbuot dili ang kanang walay authority. Gi-announce ko na nga bye na daan ang COPC, busa knockout match na kadtong game sa KBP ug PNP,” said Ken Jaudian.
COPC president Richie Salloman agreed that the media hoopfest must be played in a round-robin affair.
“Since tulo raman ka teams, nganong dili man madula tanan, and we have three days in our game schedules to do that,” Salloman said.
“Walay gubot kon gibunot or nag draw lots before the games have started,” added past COPC president Uriel Quilinguing.
It can be recalled that past basketball events, as major sports highlight in observance of the annually-held Press Freedom Week, were also hobbled by some comical controversies.
“Sa una, kamulo pa nag-elimination ang uban pero aduna nay gi-declare nga champion. And now, ang walay daug nga team ang nag-champion,” another participant said.