THE players and coaches of the participating teams in the Mayor’s Cup Under-16 Invitational Basketball Tournament have decided to donate the cash prizes to the victims of the recent fire that hit Barangay Duljo-Fatima.
According to Cebuano basketball legend and Cebu City Councilor Dondon Hontiveros, he initially wanted to propose dividing the cash prize of P30,000 into two—with P15,000 going to the winning teams and the rest going to charity.
However, the teams came up with a better idea: to give all of the prize money to the victims of the fire that destroyed 70 houses and displaced over 400 people.
“I suggested to the coaches if we can split the cash prize, we give the half to the fire victims and the other half will be divided by the champions and the runners-up. But they said that they will instead give all the intended prizes to the fire victims,” said Hontiveros, who spearheaded the tournament in cooperation with the Cebu City Sports Commission.
The participating teams are the University of San Carlos, the Spartans from Ormoc, Team A from Cagayan de Oro, Don Bosco, CLBA of coach Leo Casinillo and the Black Stallions of multi-titled head coach Britt Reroma.
The Mayor’s Cup Under-16 Invitational Basketball Tournament ended on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020.
Hontiveros added that he is also organizing another charity basketball game on Friday, Jan. 10, which will see the University of Cebu (UC) take on the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. champions Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras.
The proceeds of the game between UC and SWU-Phinma will be given to victims of the fires that struck Duljo-Fatima and Inayawan in Cebu City. (JNP)