SAN JOSE, Antique – Iloilo Giants, represented by St. Robert’s International Academy Panda Rockets-Elite Lab, emerged as champions in the elementary and secondary event of the 2025 WVRAA Meet basketball here.
The Ilonggo cagers captured the elementary division crown after defeating Negros Occidental, 48-45, in a tightly-contested championship game on Thursday night at the Binirayan Sports Complex.
Bannering the Panda Rockets elementary boys basketball team are Mark Santi Coronica, Matt Owen Chua, Rafael Arevalo, Johnry James Parcon, Niel Catimbang, and Ethan Toledo.
Also part of the John Guanco-mentored squad are Travis Sayo, Ace Polines, Shian Will Laña, Tyler Guion, Alex Empleo, and Kristopher Roquillo.
The Giants also showed their dominance in the secondary boys basketball as the Panda Rockets-represented team defeated Negros Occidental (Bacolod Tay Tung High School) in the finals, 80-73.
Among the members of the Panda Rockets secondary team are Kyle Sardon, Michsan Onate, Paul Jovan Santome, Jhon Rey Alarcon, Rio John Doronilla, and Luke John Rose.
Also part of the squad were Nike Gadong, Shaun Arnold Gumela, Airez John Macadangdang, Rusell Clib Puga, Derrick Suspena, and Ace Maestral.
The two Panda Rockets squad will now advance to the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, which is slated from May 24 to June 2 at Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
“We are happy to win the WVRAA Meet, and we are hoping that we can represent the region well when we compete in Palarong Pambansa,” team manager Eugene Chua told Panay News./PN
