GUIMARAS – Joered Sorongon of Barangay Salvacion, Buenavista, Guimaras emerged as champion in the Players’ Center Slam Dunk competition at the Cabalagnan National High School in Cabalangan, Nueva Valencia here.
The 5-foot-11 Sorongon showcased his leaping and dunking ability in the three rounds to clinch the championship recently in the first-ever face-to-face sporting event in Guimaras during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
The 18-year-old Sorongon bested first runner-up Jay Gallo of Barangay Mabini in Buenavista and second runner-up Vincent Galvan of Barangay Salvacion, Nueva Valencia.
Sorongon’s first execution in the championship round was a two-handed dunk while jumping over a motorcycle and a one-hander dunk while leaping over fellow contestant Carl Bryan Damaso.
For topping the slam dunk competition, Sorongon took home P3,000 cash prize, ball and shorts, while Gallo bagged runner-up prize of P1,500 and a short and Galvan had P1,000 prize.
Other dunkers who participated in the one-day event were Damaso of Tastasan, Buenavista; Franz Dominique Grio of Mabini, Buenavista; Carldemmie Gamuyao of Cabalangan, Nueva Valencia; and Edwin Viñas of East Valencia.
According to Players’ Center founder Richard Gabayoyo, 14 players originally registered for the event but half of them backed out due to the strict implementation of COVID-19 vaccination ruling.
“We strictly implemented ‘yung ruling na dapat kumpleto ang vaccination of the participants. So only seven dunkers were left in the competition,” Gabayoyo told Panay News.
“We want this slam dunk competition as, in a way, promoting the COVID-19 vaccination. That it is safe to be vaccinated and also for all of us to move to a new normal the soonest,” he added.
The face-to-face slam dunk competition came after Players’ Center hosted a Zoom Dunk Competition among Guimarasnon earlier this year where Francis Pugao of Barangay Tamborong in San Lorenzo emerged as champion./PN
