League’s new record established

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

I HAVE been following the annual PRISAA-UCAAP cagefest since its birth. It has been on for many years now, but I believe the tournament this year is the most colorful, regimented and has a well-balanced team rivalry, resulting in some new records after just five days of hostilities. Not only that, the tourney is now a real crowd-drawer, unlike the previous years.  Spectators used to come in big bunches only for the opening, semifinals and the finals. Yes, there’s a big difference this year.

The games on July 26 and August 5 were the most memorable matches that I watched (so far) when two records were established. On July 26, the underrated and perennial tail-ender Colegio de Dagupan (CdD) Blue Stallions stunned the viewing public (including this writer) by scoring a 77-73 major upset victory over defending titlist and always-title contender Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) Dukes. (See related story on this page) It was the first time in the history of the league.

On August 5, CdD prolific forward Eugene Ponce registered eight treys beyond the rainbow line and pumped in a total of 34 points, a tournament high, to lift his team to a hard-earned 75-70 victory against PAMMA. Poncer broke the record of six treys established by former University of Luzon (UL) sharpshooter player Rod Natavio in 2006.

History was also made when the organizers held the third day of skirmishes at the newly constructed Arzadon gymnasium located at the Leisure Coast Resort owned by Voltaire Arzadon. I think that the gym is the cleanest, coolest, complete with facilities, and most elegant sports center that I ever saw in my life in the country.

“Puwede kang kumain kahit sa comfort room dahil napakilinis at mabango pa,” said Gerardo Mije Jr., a basketball fanatic from Mangaldan. “Puwede mong imbitahan ditong maglaro ang mga PBA players at hindi ka mapapahiya sa kanila,” he added. Arzadon also owns the CdD quintet, now a big contender for the championship.

But that memorable day was not a lucky day for his boys because despite the big crowd in attendance, dominated by CdD students, his Blue Stallions were unable to score another upset. They lost, 81-79, against 2005 title holder University of Pangasinan-Phinma Flames. (See related story also on this page.)

“The league is getting better and better,” said Atty. Gonzalo Duque, PRISAA national chairman and LNU president.

“Even if my boys will not win the championship, that’s ok. We have to develop these Pangasinan players because I believe in all the capacity of the Pangasinenses. We should not allow recruitment from other places to play because this is a Pangasinan league,” Duque explained.

League commissioner Angel Gumarang echoed this saying, “The league is the biggest sports spectacle of the province. This is Pangasinan’s favorite sport, the breeding ground of basketball potentials and we should be proud about that.”

I was informed that Gumarang is being groomed by Duque to be the sports consultant of LNU. Asked about that, Gumarang said now that his case against the Dagupan City policemen had been amicably settled with an apology from Inspector Marites Aradanas, there’s a big possibility that he will accept the offer from Duque.

Gumarang used to be sports director and instructor of UPang when the institution was still owned by Cesar T. Duque, brother of Gonz.

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