SWU Cobras, Cebu Niños lead hoop stars to light up Tagoloan

CEBU, Philippines — Reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) champions Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras shift their Mindanao Tour to Tagoloan town in Misamis Oriental via the Tagoloan Open Invitational Basketball Tournament slated on December 17-21.

Led by Senegalese import Lamine Thiam and top gunners Sir Shaquille Imperial, Dyl Roncal, Red Cachuela and William Polican, the Cobras this time are hoping to claim a championship crown that slipped out of their hands after they bowed down to the Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors in the most latest tournament they joined in Kiwabe, Bukidnon fortnight ago.

But then again, the Cobras must brace for daunting mission as they will be going up against an army of former and active players from the PBA, Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), UAAP, NCAA and Cebu’s own CESAFI.

The biggest roadblock in Southwestern U’s path to glory are the SJ-Cebu Niños and KSB Glass Iligan.

The Cebu Niños are powered by collegiate standouts Joshua Yerro, James Tempra, Justine Jake Rosete, Ivan Jay Maata, Roosevelt Jelianggao, Jonathan Gesalem, and Tricky Dyn Peromingan while KSB Glass Iligan boasts of a star-studded roster composed of veteran commercial cagers Mark Yee, Jojo Tangkay, Giovanni Jalalon, Landry Sanjo, John Abad, Emmanuel Calo, Kevin Villafranca, Ferdinand Lusdoc and Hafer Mondragon.

The other title threats of the five-day tilt spearheaded by Tagoloan LGU under the dynamic leadership of Mayor Gomer A. Sabio are Team Unity and Parekoy Manila.

Team Unity is manned by ex-pros Carlos Sayon and Gilbert Omolon together with rising collegiate star Mar Leandro Actub, while Parekoy Manila is bannered by Ernesto Billones, Al Vergara, Julian Jhun Posada, Francis Claverol, Junard Caparida, and Lester Reyes.

“Aside from providing our constituents with a highly entertaining basketball action, we are also holding this event as part of the extensive program of our local government that is ‘Yes to Sports, No to Drugs’. That is one of the reasons why we are opening this to the public for free,” said Mayor Sabio.

Van Halen Parmis, who is helping Mayor Sabio in carrying out the town’s sports projects, hopes that through this event they will inspire more kids to take up sports and eventually spot potentials, in which they will help nurture to become champion athletes someday.

“That is really our goal, to scout for raw talents and help them reach their dreams. We at Tagoloan are treading that kind of path in terms of sports development up to the grassroots level,” said Parmis.

Meanwhile, the five contenders will play a single round robin. The two teams with the best records at the end of the elimination will automatically fight it out for the title of the pocket tilt that dangles a total of P405,000 bountry to both the winners and non-winners.

The champion will take home P150,000, while the second to fifth placers will pocket P100,000, P75,000, P50,000, and P30,000, respectively.