THE largest gathering of local hoopsters in the Summer Capital formally opened their title campaign as the fifth season of Samahang Barangay Pangkalikasan Invitational Basketball Tournament tips off at the South Sanitary Camp covered court Sunday morning.
Some 36 amateur teams opened their bid for basketball supremacy in a competition aimed to promote sports and cultivate environmental care among its participants.
SBP President and Cabinet Hill Punong Barangay Edward Lumasang said the fifth instalment of the sports tournament targets to develop more attention in providing necessary care to the environment led by the local units of each barangay.
“We cater not only to build camaraderie through sports but the league wants to have projects focused mainly in environmental development and protection,” Lumasang said.
Lumasang added aside from the basketball tournament, other sports to be demonstrated in future events include darts and golf competitions.
“So far iyon muna ang nasa calendar ng future activities ng SBP, aside from the tree planting and eco-walk projects that we do every year,” Lumasang quipped.
He mentioned some of the proposed plans are still in the works including the projected construction of an ecological bike trail in Ambiong.
Meanwhile, the basketball tournament is expected to run until late in November with all game scheduled weekend and to be held in various covered courts in the city.
Participating teams this season include Sanitary Camp, Sto. Rosario Valley, Cabinet Hill, City Camp, My Good Sheperd, Pacdal, M. Quirino Hill, Bakakeng for bracket A. Engineers Hill, Pinget, PMA Fort Del Pilar, Dontogan Valley, Lualhati, Guisad Central, Andres Bonifacio, and Pinsao will compose bracket B.
P. Burgos, San Antonio, Honeymoon, Trancoville, Camp 8, MRR-Queen of Peace, Dominican, and Brookside will match up in bracket C, while Dagsian, Scout Barrio, Loakan Proper, Lourdes Proper, Irisan, DPS, Outlook, and Lopez Jaena will round up bracket D.
Teams will battle in an a round robin format where the overall champion including three runner-up will receive trophies and cash as prizes at the end of the season.