This coming Sunday, September 18, coach Cholo Elegino and the Holy Cross of Davao Crusaders are facing a tough opponent in the 21-Under JProject Basketball Cup Tagum City.
Coach Cholo has been spending days and nights on the drawing board to find the needed plays in beating an undefeated Montana Pawnshop-Jose Maria College Davao City.
“Kusog sad sila pare. Undefeated pud sila. Parehas mi, 3-0,” said coach Cholo, who for full disclosure is a compadre of mine along with a bunch of guys during our time in the Top Sports Advantage Inc. headed by Cyrus Lademora.
The Holy Cross Crusaders are sporting a clean record, so far, by scoring victories against NYBC of Nabunturan, Torrefranca J Hoops of Tagum and Stampede Ballers of Panabo.
Coach Cholo, by nature does not want to lose a game even during their years when I covered them in the Milo BEST SBP/Passerelle Tournaments, is hoping to keep his clean record, because he wanted to keep a good impression from a supportive Holy Cross of Davao College president Bro. Noelvic Deloria, SC.
Judging from the Facebook posts, Bro. Deloria, SC has been very visible in the sports events of the Holy Cross community. And I can also see the presence of my dear Professor Eduardo Ruedas Fernandez, whom we lovingly call sir Edfer.
With a supportive president and a fiery basketball coach, it looks like that the Crusaders will regain their former glories during the time of coach Arthur “Tura” Sumalinog, the revered multi-titled mentor and arguably one of Davao’s best point guards during his time.
Personally, I am happy to know that coach Cholo and our gang of friends from the defunct Philippine Sports Commission-Mindanao Satellite Office are still active in sports, this time, at our beloved alma mater, Holy Cross.
To me, win or lose, I always look long-term when it comes to sports development, especially for athletes under 21 years old.
And I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the organizer of the JProject and the City Government of Tagum for initiating this kind of tournament for young basketeers who, for sure, in the near future will be the next batch of professional players in the country.
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