Sto. Niño Kings reign as Pulpogan basketball champ

CEBU, Philippines — The Sto. Niño Kings prevailed over Faustine,69-62,in their closely-fought final battle to win the juniors division championship of the Barangay Pulpogan Summer Basketball Tournament recently at the Pulpogan gym in Consolacion.

Rovelo Robles sparkled with 19 points while JP Dalumpines and Prince Soquino chipped in 15 and 11 markers, respectively, for the Kings, who weathered a spirited resistance by Faustine all game long to eke out a seven-point triumph.

It was a triple celebration for the Sto. Niño squad as three Kings bagged individual awards.

Dalumpines was honored as regular season Most Valuable Player, Robles emerged as the Finals MVP and Most Improved Player, while Soquino was feted as Rookie of the Year. Dalumpines and Robles both played for the Consolacion Sarok Weavers that made it to the quarterfinals in the previous season of the Cebu Governor's Cup.

Dalumpines and Robles were joined in the Mythical Five by Carl Rodrigo, Jayde Esdrelon and Wenard Saliot, who also bagged the Sportsmanship Award.

The Sto. Nino Kings also grabbed the champion's trophy in the midget division, while Team Andrie lorded it over the mini category.

The MVPs were Shan Tagadtad (mini) and Jovan Capalac (midget), while the Most Improved Players were Daniel Mendoza (mini) and Kayky Pestano (midget).

Forming part of the Mythical Five were Shan Tagadtad, Jences Salinas, Vergil Cabales, JE Alegado, and Dodong Sibonga (mini) and Jovan Capalac, Vince Tortuga, Nanay Osabel, Joshua Goc-ong and Clark Vaflor (midget).

  The summer league was supervised by commisioner Ronald Somosot assisted by technical committee chief Roland Yamelo and working committee members Renan Mendoza, Borres Acompanado and Jojo Ybanes.

It was made possible through the all-out support of the Pulpogan barangay council led by Brgy. Capt. Avelino Bihag and SK chairman Jezril Tampus, — EBV