BIG-TIME basketball shifts to the state-of-the-art Tagoloan Dome as the Municipality of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental bankrolls close to half a million peso in staging a “free to the public” pre-Christmas invitational tournament which opens 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 17.
With assorted high-caliber players from the Philippine Basketball Association, Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (PBA), University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi), and top commercial cagers from nearby Cagayan de Oro, in action, the five-day hoopfest dubbed as “Municipality of Tagoloan Open Invitational Basketball Tournament” is guaranteed to be a sure fire-hit.
“In big sports events like this, naa’y pulta (entrance fee), but this one is free to the public. So, our main concern right now as a host, is to avoid any trouble out from the over-flowing crowd. Magbutang mi’g led screen for viewing sa gawas aron walay stampede nga mahitabo kay areglahon nato pag-una ang mga tiguwang ug mga bata sa priority seats,” said Van Halen Parmis, Mayor Gomer “Enan” Sabio’s trusted in-charge in enforcing his youth-driven sports program in the locality.
(We will put led screen for outside viewing so we can avoid a stampede because we will cater first the elders and children to have priority seats.)
With the venue’s 4,000 seating capacity, Parmis said local cage buffs can expect intense live basketball action this Christmas season inside the Tagoloan Dome that was hardly shaken by the latest of a series of quakes that hit Mindanao.
“Fortunately, unique and solid as stolid ang structure sa Tagoloan Dome. Probably the one and only in Mindanao, atong venue walay problema kon simbako adunay pag-uyog sa yuta nga mahitabo pag-usab. Safety kaayo atong crowd,” assured the mayor’s son Jerson Sabio, who is the village chair of Mohon, Tagoloan.
Out to dispute the P150,000 top purse are the SJ-Cebu Niños, KSB Glass Iligan, Team Unity, Parekuy Manila and reigning Cesafi champions Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras.
Second to fifth placers will receive P100,000, P75,000, P50,000, and P30,000 plus trophies.
“Pero dili kakumpyansaan ang Cebu Niños kay naay nadugang sa ila from Far Eastern University-Diliman and Lyceum of the Philippines University,” Parmis told SunStar Cagayan de Oro.
Senegalese import Lamine Thiam and the reliable Sir Shaquielle Imperial, Dyl Roncal, William Polican, and Cagayan de Oro native Red Cachuela are in the forefront of the South Western’s title bid in the December 17 to 21 hoopfest after narrowly yielding the championship title to the Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors in the recent invitational tourney in Kibawe, Bukidnon.
Marquee names floated earlier to add color to basketball entertainment in Tagoloan include Mark Yee, Jojo Tangkay, Gilbert Omolon, Carlos Sayon, Ernesto Billones, Jun Daanoy, Bodie Tamparong, LJ Aquino, Wellmonz Muñoz, Joshua Yerro, Justine Jake Rosete, and Joshua Yerro.
A Tagoloan resident is thrilled, however, at the rumor that former Gilas guard Gio Jalalon will beef up KSB Glass of Iligan.
“The Oro tandem of Jalalon and Kent Salado famously known as UAAP’s the driver and the conductor, adtong wala pa sila na-draft sa PBA used to strut their stuff at the Tagoloan Dome. Oh, how we love nga unta makabalik sila’g dula dire kay daghan `mi nila nga fans,” were his words.
(The Oro tandem of Jalalon and Kent Salado famously known as UAAP’s the driver and the conductor, before they were drafted in PBA used to strut their stuff at the Tagoloan Dome. Oh, how we love to see both of them play here because there are many of us, their fans.)
Head of the referees Joseph “Loloy” Estroga said the five contending teams will play a single round robin. The top two teams will automatically play in the championship with the rest battling it out for third place.
“Only one from five teams will be eliminated but will still go home with P30,000 cash in hand,” Estroga said.
“So, pamasko gyod sa LGU of Tagoloan kini nga torneyo kay walay pulta unya tanan participants makadawat sa premyo,” summed up Parmis.
(So, this tournament is really a Christmas treat from the local government of Tagoloan because admission is free and all the participants will receive a prize.)