The Davao City Local Government Unit donated a basketball signed by the players of the champion team of the “80th Araw ng Dabaw 2017 Commercial Basketball Tournament” to the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Mindanao). This after the UP Fighting Maroons-Uling Roasters Litson Manok won the championship over De La Salle University-The Royal Mandaya Hotel, the reigning men’s basketball champion in the prestigious Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines League.
City Administrator Zuleika Lopez personally donated the souvenir ball to UP Mindanao Dean Stella Salazar in simple ceremonies at the Davao City Hall Conference Room.
In deciding to donate the souvenir ball to UP Mindanao, Davao City Sports Development Officer Michael Aportadera said, “This souvenir will be best appreciated in UP Mindanao, based on the enthusiastic support of UP students and alumni that that I observed throughout the tournament and during the championship”.
UP won over DLSU in the elimination round, 79-73, and in the championship game, 87-79, in what Mr. Aportadera described as “one of the most exciting basketball games I have ever seen”.
The ball displayed the signatures of the players Jun Manzo, Diego Dario, Jarrell Lim, Kyles Lao, Robert Ricafort, Noah Webb, Javier Gomez de Liaño, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Jan-Jan Jaboneta IV, Jerson Prado, Gelo Vito, Andrew Harris, Bright Akhuetie, Ibrahim Ouattara, and Most Valuable Player awardee Paul Desiderio. (PR)
