MANILA – A 5-foot-11 native of Barangay Tamborong in San Lorenzo, Guimaras emerged as champion in the first-ever Zoom Dunk Competition in Western Visayas organized by Guimaras Players’ Center Sports Academy (GPCSA).
Francis Pugao showcased his leaping and dunking ability in the three rounds to earn the crown and rule Saturday’s slam dunk competition.
The 22-year-old Pugao bested 1st runner-up Michael Joe Igpuara and 2nd runner-up Joered Sorongon, both from Barangay Salvacion in Buenavista, in the gold medal round.
Pugao seized the championship with his one-hander dunk while jumping over two motorcycles. He did a 360 turn one-hander dunk in the preliminaries and a one-hander flush while jumping over six persons in the semifinals.
Prior to the championship round, 23 Guimaras-based dunkers joined the event, but only 11 were qualified to the semifinals.
“Actually 10 lang dapat ang semifinalists but since nag-tie ‘yung scores nung no. 10 and no. 11 player, the judges decided to let them both in the semifinals,” said GPCSA’s founder and West Visayas State University’s sports director Dr. Richard Gabayoyo.
The online dunk contest was the second virtual sporting event hosted by GPCSA after an online chess tournament.
“I am happy with the turnout of this Zoom dunk competition. The event is really viable especially in this time of the pandemic. This is a one of a kind here in Western Visayas and yet we were able to draw 23 players,” Gabayoyo said, adding that GPCSA plans to hold more sporting events in the future./PN
