SEVENTEEN-teams of elementary and high school students are seeing action in the 1st Inter-Schools Basketball Championships dubbed as Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez Cup, which opened Wednesday at the People’s Astrodome.

Hosted by the Pangasinan Universal Institute, the opening ceremonies had Fernandez herself as guest of honor and speaker while Mayor Alipio Fernandez delivered the inspirational message.

The city’s two highest officials later joined Private Schools Athletic Association Region 1 President and National PRISAA co-chairman Dr. Gonzalo Duque in tossing the ceremonial ball.

 In her speech, Vice Mayor Fernandez called on the student players to continue playing for excellence in sports standard, emphasizing that it is not the winning that matters but it is on how one plays the game.

A former college basketball player at the then Luzon Colleges, now University of Luzon, Vice Mayor Fernandez said sports develops team work, creates camaraderie and instills discipline which the players acquire when they mature and become government officials, business executives and professionals.

She vowed that with the support of Mayor Fernandez, himself an accomplished sportsman during his youth, she will do her best in helping the youth, especially students, develop their talents in sports in order to wean them away from delinquency and illegal drugs.

Participating in the tournament for secondary level-boys are Divine Word Academy of Dagupan, Dominican School, Ednas School, FQDMF Special Science High School, Mother Goose Special Science High School, University of Luzon, University of Pangasinan and Pangasinan Universal Institute.

For the secondary level-girls, the participants are Divine World Academy of Dagupan, Dominican School, Mother Goose Special Science High School and Pangasinan Universal Institute.

Seeing action in the elementary level-boys are Divine Word Academy of Dagupan, Dominican School, La Marea Academy and Pangasinan Universal Institute.

The theme of the tournament is “Students progress for excellence empowerment and discipline”.

The tournament is   sponsored by PRISAA with the Dagupan City government through the Dagupan City Sports Commission and the National Basketball Club Organization cooperating.

Dagupan City Sports Commission consultant Angel Gumarang hailed both   Mayor Fernandez and Vice Mayor Fernandez for their strong commitment to help develop sports excellence in their city.—LM

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