BINGAWANONS were given a treat as former PBA players, UAAP cagers, foreign players and local standouts invade the area in an exhibition basketball match last Thursday at the Bingawan Civic Center in Bingawan, Iloilo.
Former PBA players Willie Miller, Ron Jason Buenafe and Ronjay Enrile, University of the East Red Warriors’ Alvin Pasaol and Ilonggo Omar Larupay and imports Jeffakins Aguara and Emmanuel Ajoula bannered the Team Palabrica.
The Team Tupas, meanwhile, were led by Niel “Beng” Tupas III, former Showtime host Eric Tai and former PBA players Hans Paul Thiele, Paolo Hubalde, Arnold Gamboa and Ilonggo Jaypee Belencion.
The game was tight in the opening half with Aguara, Larupay, Andee Ticson and Armar Talimay anchoring the offense of Team Palabrica but Tupas and Belencion rode on their outside shooting to keep Team Tupas within shouting distance.
It was still a close match in the second half but the Team Palabrica got a huge lift from Enrile, Buenafe, Pasaol, Talimay and Lester Valn Paraico to keep the Team Tupas at bay. Final score was 118-114 for Team Palabrica.
“It has been a tradition for us to hold exhibition sporting events during Bingawan fiesta,”said Bingawan Mayor Mark Plagata Palabrica. “Last year, we invited Philippine Superliga team Generika-Ayala Lifesavers for an exhibition match against the Central Philippine University.”
“Para naman maiba this year, we decided to invite former PBA players and team it up with our local standouts,” he added. “I am glad that the Bingawanons have enjoyed it. We hope to continue this in our future fiestas.”
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American International Master John Daniel Bryant prevailed over Filipino Grandmaster John Paul Gomez to clinch the crown of the 2019 DWP Rapid chess tournament-Iloilo Master Invitational held recently in Iloilo.
Gomez in fact was a full game ahead of Bryant heading into the final round but yielded to the American chess player to end up in a two-way tie at 5.0 points in the 25 minutes 5 seconds delayed time control format.
Bryant, however, took the tournament title by virtue of the winner-over-the-other rule. Bryant pocketed P12,000 top purse for his effort while Gomez bring home the runner-up prize of P9,000 for settling second place.
Fritz Porras and Ellan Asuela, meanwhile, occupied third and fourth places, respectively with 4.5 points apiece, while International Master Oliver Dimakiling, Danny Mangao and National Master Emmanuel Emperado have 4.0 points each at fifth to seventh place.
Grandmaster Enrico Sevillano, National Master Xavier Verdun and John Michael Silvederio finished with 3.5 points each. Marvin Ting, National Master Carlito Lavega, Horizon Villanueva, Alex Provido and National Master Cesar Mariano have 3.0 each./PN
