By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

WE all know that the month of March is the start of Philippines’ summer period. And when summer time comes, it’s sporting time as many of our media sports colleagues say. Yes, outdoor sports like beach volleyball, cycling, baseball, football or soccer, marathon, golf, lawn tennis, canoeing, surfing, cricket, track and field events, to name some, events we cannot conduct during wet season, are played enthusiastically during summer.

Actually, basketball, beach volleyball and two cycling events are in my calendar this month and next month. In fact, a province-wide ladies beach volleyball tiff will be held on February 18 under the organization of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Pangasinan Chapter, an initiative of the hard-working and sports-minded Pangasinan’s capital town Lingayen chief executive Leopoldo N. Bataoil, the current president of LMP Pangasinan Chapter.

According to hizzoner Bataoil, the event will be dubbed as “1st Ladies Beach Volleyball Tournament 2023” exclusively for ages 15-24 years old and will be held at the Chatanoga, Lingayen Baywalk area. He said the prestigious and colorful championship match will culminate on May 1-2 in conjunction with the Pista’y Dayat celebration. Hopefully, a cycling event will also be conducted on May 1 in Lingayen, like what was done last year.

In basketball, last February 2, I joined a meeting of the TRIONYS Sports Apparel planned a province-wide collegiate tourney in cooperation with Samahang Basketbolista ng Pilipinas-Region 1. The meeting of coaches, managers and trainers of well-known universities and colleges of Pangasinan held at the YMCA building in Dagupan City was presided by well-known Pangasinan basketball organizer Dr. Edilberto Abalos. So far, nine of the coaches and managers of the province’s nine tertiary institutions showed their interest to join the cagefest, namely: Urdaneta City University, Universidad de Dagupan, Lyceum Northwestern University, PIMSAT Colleges, Pangasinan University of Northern Philippines, Philippine College of Science and Technology, Perpetual Help College of Pangasinan, Binalatongan Colleges and Pangasinan State University. Conspicuously absent were University of Pangasinan and University of Luzon, two of Pangasinan’s dreaded and well-known dominant teams in province caging. I don’t know why.

Tackled during the meeting were the latest rules of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and essential ground rules of the league like the days of hostilities per week (Tuesday and Friday), proposed different game venues, entry fee, deadline for submission of line-up and legal documents of players to be submitted on or before February 18 and the tentative commencement date of the tourney on March 7. Opening venue will be discussed during their February 16 final meeting.

In cycling, aside from what I wrote in my last column anent the official revival of Mangaldan’s most famous one-day race dubbed as “Werweran ed Mangaldan 2023” slated this coming March 12 initiated by of my town’s chief executive Bonafe de Vera Parayno, two more big bikefests will be conducted in our province and La Union. I am confident these will push through sans financial issues. According to my son Jazy who is officially in connection with the organizer, the two-day La Union bikefest (February 25-26) will also see the participation of our local riders. And hopefully the planned March 5 road bike open category race will also push through. Of course, cash prizes, trophies and medals are up for grabs.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility for “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 PETER 5: 5

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