USec Alminarez leads PTIC to Troops Hoops title

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Trade and Investment Center undersecretary Dave Alminarez continued to flash his top form when he led his side to a pulsating 81-78 win over PLDT in the first ever Troop Hoops Basketball Tournament at the Philippine Army Wellness Gym at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Alminarez, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte this year to the PTIC position, scored 25 points in the Herculean effort that saw him also bag the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award. Alminarez also had a lot of help from former Jose Rizal University Heavy Bomber Teytey Teodoro, who added 15 points.

PLDT was led by EJ De Guzman, who was backstopped by former University of the Philippines players Magi Sison and Gelo Montecastro.

Tournament MVP Dave Almarinez

Joining Alminarez in the Troops Hoops Mythical Five Selection were PhilHealth’s Jonathan Aldave, who played for Letran and Toyota in the defunct Philippine Basketball League, EJ De Guzman, Cocolife’s Niño Marquez, who once played for Air21 in the PBA, and Mark Montuaño, who last played for Informatics in NAASCU as well as Wangs in the D-League.

Troops Hoops was created by former Adamson Falcon and current enlisted man Jan Colina to augment the Hero Foundation that helps out the children of fallen servicemen.

“This is just our first tournament,” said Colina, who last played professionally for the Flying V Thunder in the last D-League Foundation Cup where his side fell in the semifinals.

“The league is to provide the various armed services with a venue to play — right now only the Philippine Army played but by the next one, we hope to get the Air Force, Marines, and Navy to participate as well. Second, this is to generate support to help out the Hero Foundation. Sana yung former college stars and pros will help generate awareness for the league and its vision.”