If San Fabian can, why can’t Dagupan City then?

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

THE municipality of San Fabian staged a prestigious, peculiar and unique basketball tournament last February 1-6.

Prestigious because six giant teams from northern Luzon participated. Four were from Pangasinan: spearheaded by last year’s Pangasinan-PriSAA (Private School Athletic Association) champion, the University of Luzon Golden Tigers; 2005 titlist the University of Pangasinan Webczars; perennial runner-up Lyceum Northwestern University Dukes; and the host town’s newly-formed squad called “San Fabian Selection.”

The four teams were joined by 2003-2004 Cordillera region champion University of Baguio and La Union illustrious missionary group known as “Think God.”

Peculiar because during the past fourteen years since I came back from Guam, I believe this is the only basketball league that was privately formed and invited our neighbors, and especially not financed by the DepEd or any government entity.

And unique because the organizers, led by Leoner Magliba and Joemar Alave, set up their own league rules which are not exactly suited to FIBA’s decorum.

And I doff my hat to Atty. Gonzalo T. Duque that only a year after he was elected as the national president of PriSAA, he didn’t think twice about hosting the PrisAA national games last year. And for the first time since the birth of the annual games, Region 1, which is composed mostly of athletes from Pangasinan, placed fourth in the overall medal standings.

I was also impressed when our provincial Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Julier Resuello twice organized a provincewide cagefest (2001 and 2004), invited all the towns and cities, but unfortunately our booming city never entered the hostilities and until now the Dagupeños, who are basketball aficionados, are still puzzled. It’s a big WHY?

I believe only Charisse Perez, the SK federation president and her predecessor could answer that question. But many say both are not basketball fanatics or not sports buffs at all, despite knowing that one of SK’s métiers for the people is sports development.

I was there during that five-day San Fabian basketball fest and I can say that it was done successfully despite some woes, peeves and rancor addressed to the officials, particularly to the referees. That’s common, a “natural” part of the game, which, if you look hard enough, hurt the jaded and bewildered organizers. But that’s also normal.

But generally, the unique project, supported by Mayor Mojamito Libunao, ABC President Roland Villegas, the Sangguniang Bayan members and Dr. Jeremy Rosario, was applauded by the San Fabianians and hopefully it will be done again next year, they say.

The visiting Think God team won the championship, repulsing the dreaded Pangasinan Golden Tigers quintet, 74-61.

The missionary group took the upper hand from start up to the end led by former PBL player Miguel Fontanilla with an amazing 30 points, converting five out of six treys in the first half.

Unfortunately and unexpectedly, the highly favored and multi-titled University of Pangasinan and University of Baguio made an early exit, losing their first two assignments and did not qualify for the semifinals. LNU entered the semis but was clobbered by the La Union squad, 97-79, and the San Fabian five were routed by the Golden Tigers, 89-74.

Now my big question is, if a third class municipality like San Fabian can hold a basketball tournament of this magnitude, I don’t see any reason why a big place like Dagupan cannot stage a similar event.

And remember, the regional office of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) is based here in Dagupan City, and nothing is being done. They just wait for the annual Pangasinan-PriSAA, and that’s all.

And so for all the people who manage the BAP office here, whoever they are, I will borrow the old phrase of a giant tv station:  “Hoy gising!” Daig pa kayo ng  maliliit  na  tao subalit    may    malaking puso.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/)

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