Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) regional director Glenn “G1” Escandor announced in a press conference of the coming of popular college teams to Davao City to spice up the Araw ng Dabaw celebrations.
University of Cebu, De La Salle University (the alma mater of former SAP Bong Go, who is currently doing very well in the senatorial bet surveys), University of the East and Lyceum of the Philippines University are seeing action on March 18 to 21 at the Davao City Recreation Center.
In the 1990s when this corner started covering basketball tournaments, we used to only have teams coming from Cebu, particularly Sunpride Foods under coach Jun Noel and M.Lhuillier Pawnshop led by coach Yayoy Alcoseba and they play against our local squads like Marsman Estate Plantation of team manager Secretary Bobot Sebastian, Trendsetter, Montana Pawnshop of Armando Quibod, Felcris Supermarket of Willie Yap (yes, that awesome Willie Yap who was our first chairman of the Mindanao Basketball Association), Avis Rent A Car, Davies Paints ug uban pa. (From what I learned from friends, Sec.Bobot and boss Willie, they joined our Creator na di ay).
Anyways, bibo kaayo gyud. Puno kaayo ang gym basta nay mga bisita gikan Sugbu. Awas awas ang tawo sa Almendras gym (later renamed Davao City Recreation Center).
And this tradition continued up to the time of SBP regional director Regino “Boy” Cua (nga ni panaw na pud sa laing kalibutan) who in one of those exciting basketball years, the Ozamiz Cottas of the Parojinogs also came to Davao to play (this is another story, a long one actually, hehehe).
I’m happy really to know that the current SBP regional director Escandor has upped the level of excitement for basketball fans with the coming of Manila-based college squads. Dili sad ni basta basta ning mga teams kay ngilngig sad ni sila sa liga sa Manila.
And that is really a great gift from boss Glenn, the SBP, City Government of Davao to basketball fanatics in Davao.
Thank you G1, SBP and the City of Davao led by Mayor Inday Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio for working together on this.
To all fans, make sure you bring ear plugs kay sigurado naa gyuy mo siyagit siyagit sa imong kiliran. Mabungog gyud ka! Lol.
Enjoy basketball fans and Happy Araw ng Dabaw!
