Names of Pangasinan’s 100 Islands quintet bared

THE newly formed amateur basketball squad called “Pangasinan Hundred Islands” was officially launched last Monday evening at the Philippine Columbian Association plaza in Paco, Manila and is ready to rumble with 11 other teams in the third season of the National Basketball Conference (NBC).

The launch was led by NBC Pres. Nathaniel Padilla and Pangasinan political bigwigs headed by Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza, 6th District Congressman Conrado Estrella III, 5th district Congressman Mark Cojuangco, 2nd district Congressman Amado Espino, Alaminos City VM Teofilo Humilde, and Dagupan City VM Alvin Fernandez.

VM Fernandez said the local squad will play its first game in Pangasinan on April 22 and will be played either at the Dagupan People’s Astrodome or at Urdaneta City Sports and Cultural Center.

According to the team’s assistant coach Angel Gumarang, 9 out of the 16 members of the local squad are from Pangasinan led by veteran Randy Lopez and Michael Gonzales of Umingan, Ryan Ico and Melvin Fontanilla of Villasis, Jun Balares and six-foot-nine beanpole Jason Tiongson of Urdaneta City, Mannix Ortega of San Jacinto, Jovy Sese of Malasiqui and Tristan Codamon of Sison.

The expansion team will be boosted by some non-Pagasinense dribblers like ex-professional Chris Corbin of Nueva Ecija, Efren Valdez of La Union, Melvin Mamaclay and Rey Paul Javier of Ilocos Sur, Rommel David of Bataan, Steve Marucot of Bulacan and Manileno JamesZablan.

Benjamin da Jose, Jr. of Urdaneta City is the head tactician with Allan Meimban of Rosales and Joseph Pelaez of Sta. Barbara and Gumarang of Dagupan City as his deputies.

As of press time (evening of March 10), the Pangasinenses are battling host Tagaytay City at the Tagaytay Sports Center in the main event of the grand opening of this year’s season.

The local squad is being supported by Pangasinan Basketball Corporation (PBC) led by 6th District Representative Conrado Estrella III. – JAG