By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

AFTER four times of tryouts in Calasiao and in Alaminos City gyms, the formation of our provisional Pangasinan Heat team quintet for the coming 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) was finally known last Thursday by our Pangasinan squad head coach Jun Marzan, the former PBA veteran Shell standout the well-known professional cager. He will be assisted by his erstwhile co-professional player Christian Calaguio of Sta. Barbara, a first in the province since MPBL was born in 2017.

The MPBL is under the commissionership of ex-PBA dribbler Kenneth Duremdes. Opening rites will be on March 16.

I watched the second of two Calasiao tryouts last month and saw how the 137 Pangasinan bona fide candidates strutted their wares as they proved their worth, eagerly hoping to become the newest professional cager in the land. Knowing the rules of this James Naismith-invented sport, only 12 regular players each team will be selected and can enter the hard court to be pitted against other teams. Depending on the plans for the team, I believe they can enlist 1 up to 5 more players as reserves or alternates of the five. They are duty bound to substitute their injured player in the succeeding games in case an unexpected untoward accident during the hostility.

As expected, only the best during the tryouts will be chosen based on their all-around aptitudes as well as discipline which also play a major role. Allow me then to give you the names of the 17 provisional members of our provincial squad as listed by coach Marzan: Allen Pomera, Robert Caasi, Mark Christian Meneses, Balbwen Espinosa, Jeric Villanueva, Ramon Capin, Jeric Garcia, Mariano Catabay, Jerico Mondala, Danille Abo, Dennis Cuaresma, Ismail Sarmiento, Garnet Asuncion, John Guico, Kurt Calaguio, Roxar Melendez. and Mayor Arth Celeste as team manager-player.

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Despite the failure of our local cyclists to win the gold or silver medal in the 2024 Philippine National Cycling Championship in Tagaytay City held last February 5-9, still my big congrats to our best bet Ronald Oranza of Villasis for winning the bronze medal in the elite division of the criterium race. Oranza was our last champion so far in multi-stage cycling races winning the coveted 2018 Ronda Pilipinas championship. Likewise, to Jazmine Kaye Vinoya of Calasiao for also winning the road race’s bronze medal in the women’s junior category. I was told that only few of our Pangasinan cyclists were able to travel to Tagayatay City because of financial constraints owing to the venue’s location.

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The first ever Sta. Maria, Pangasinan cycling road race will be staged this coming February 19. The bikefest dubbed as “Santa Maria’s First Ever Cycling Marathon Championships” is under the major sponsorship of the sports-minded Mayor Julius A. Ramos and co-founded and chaired by SBM Roberto A. Ginez. It will be conducted in five categories. Awards and cash prizes are at stake. See you there.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites. 1 CORINTHIANS 6: 9

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