Sports Eye
Binmaley five fail this time
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
AFTER three tries with one
championship in their pocket, the fans of the very popular Binmaley quintet were
surprised to see the later fail to enter the second round of the 3rd
Governor’s Cup Pangasinan Inter-Town/City Basketball Tournament. I don’t know
how that happened because I didn’t get to watch all their games in the
elimination round. Many believe the failure of the squad this time was due to
the absence of their scoring champion and the league’s first edition MVP, the
reliable Roxar Melendez. Yes, I guess that’s true. Some fans from the town also
shared the same observation, that nobody in the team can fill in the shoes of
the six-foot-two Melendez. Last I heard about the 25 year-old lanky Melendez
was that he was recruited by Quezon City-based Diliman College, a step closer
to the professional league, the PBA.
The Binmaley five under the new tutelage of former MBA (Metropolitan Basketball
Association) Pangasinan Presidents cager Juan Castro is bracketed with the
Central Conference that had eight teams battling for the top four to qualify in
the second round. Unfortunately, the Binmaley boys of Mayor Sammy Rosario
landed fifth this time, their poorest performance in the three-year-old league,
organized by our sports-minded Gov. Amado “Pogi” Espino lll. Worse, they also
win the Wild Card Conference, the last slot to qualify for the second round.
The elimination round of Central Conference was topped by the league’s two-time
first runner-up Manaoag with seven wins-no loss, while the rejuvenated
Bayambang team of hizzoner Cesar T. Quiambao came in close second with six
wins-one loss. Their single defeat was in the hands of Manaoag. My town
Mangaldan and last year non-qualifier, the energized Malasiqui boys, landed
third and fourth, respectively.
In our last week issue, I mistakenly listed Binmaley in the fourth spot instead
of Malasiqui. My sincere apologies to the Malasiqui team and its fans. It was
an honest oversight.
According to Henry Escleto of the governing Pangasinan Sports Development and
Management Council (PSDMC), the venue of the second round will be announced
during February 12 meeting of team coaches and managers. The remaining 15 teams
will be divided in two brackets, A and B.
* * * *
My big thanks to the
people who in one way or the other selflessly lent support for the success of
the 2019 Binmaley Cycling Challenge held last February 3 that I directed – to our sponsors, Excellent Noodles of Alex
Billan, businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, Mayor Sammy Rosario, PNP provincial
director SSupt. Wilson Lopez and his men (especially Binmaley OIC Supt. Charlie
Umayam, SPO2 Mike Tabora), Mrs. Nancy Suratos of Lingayen barangay Lomboy, and
Lomboy barangay captain Cesar Fernandez. Above all, I thank the Lord and
Almighty God and Our Lady of Manaoag Mama Mary.
The 85-kilometer bikefest with 43 participants was won by Ysmael Gendrano of
Manila in the master category; Toti Calpezo of San Fabian was second and
Virgilio Valenzuela also from Manila, was third. David Jugo of San Fabian topped the
grandmaster division, Modesto Martos of San Manuel, Tarlac was second, and Tony
Agno of Villasis placed third. Cash prizes, trophies and medals were awarded by
Alex Billan.
* * * *
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: All go to
one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. ECCLESIASTAS 3: 20
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