Bayugan LGU eyes bigger league with PCCL, Unigames in its radar

CEBU, Philippines - On the heels of its highly sucessful hosting of the 1st Bayugan Inter-Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament, the city government of Bayugan under the flagship of Mayor Kim Lope A. Asis looks forward to bringing a much bigger league in their place with no less than the prestigious PCCL National Collegiate Championships as well as the Palarong Pambansa and the University Games in its radar.

"May I take this opportunity to thank, first and foremost, the tournament organizer, coach Van Halen Parmis for his hard work and usual support to the city of Bayugan. May I also extend my thank you to the participating teams who came as far as Luzon and Visayas to take part in this tournament," said Mayor Asis in a statement. "Rest assured that it will not stop here."

The five-day hardcourt showdown that dangled over half a million pesos in cash prize to the top performers drew five of the country's top collegiate ballclubs led by reigning UAAP champions Far Eastern University Tamaraws and San Beda Red Lions Team B from Manila.

Cebu was bannered by the University of the Visayas Green Lancers and the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, while the General Santos City-based Holy Trinity College Wildcats represented Mindanao.

The Tamaraws of coach Nash Racela went on to pocket the P200,000 champion's purse after trouncing the Lancers, 88-63, in their lopsided final match on Wednesday night at the jampacked Lope Asis Memorial  Gymnasium in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur. The Lancers went home with P150,000, while the Jaguars received P100,000 for placing third after stunning the Red Lions, 82-80.

Living up to its billing as a cash-rich event, UV coach Gary Cortes grabbed P30,000 for topping the 3-point shootout, USJ-R forward Miguel Gastador got P10,000 for winning the Slam Dunk Contest, Cebuano assistant coach Joseph Clepas of the Red Lions earned P10,000 for making a rare hardcourt shot, while the CESAFI All-Star coaches won P15,000 after edging Bayugan LGU in their goodwill match.

It was indeed a whole lot of experience for the participants who enjoyed free airfare, local transpo, meals and accommodation not to mention the round-the-clock security provided to them by the organizers in the entire duration of the tournament.

Inspired by their remarkable staging of what was touted as the biggest Inter-Collegiate basketball show in southern Philippines, Mayor Asis has vowed to spearhead an even grander sporting spectacle in Bayugan.

"The goal for this year is to make sports one of the priorities of the city. Given the clamor and the success of the said undertaking, the city is looking forward to host more tournaments specifically the PCCL, Palarong Pambansa and even the University Games. I am personally looking forward to that this year," said Mayor Asis.  (FREEMAN)