BACOLOD City – Team Underground was hailed as champions in the Western Visayas championship of the Next Gen Hoops 4 Youth on Tuesday at the Visayan Maritime Academy Gymnasium here.
The Underground squad of head coach Sunny Boy Endrina displayed its steadiness to defeat fellow Negrense team Puff Boss and Resto in a tightly-contested finale, 38-36.
Aljohn Catague was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for his consistent showing for the Underground in the three rounds of competition.
Catague and teammate Edsel Manday were named as part of the Sportsmanship Awardees along with Puff Boss and Resto’s Patrick Dave Yulo and Philip John Majometano and Disciples Sagay City’s Edmar Valdez.
Prior to their finals win, Underground suffered a 40-35 loss to Puff Boss and Resto before bouncing back withba 45-38 triumph against Disciples Sagay City.
Puff Boss and Resto, meanwhile, has a perfect 2-0 slate going to the championship match as they also prevailed against Disciples Sagay City by a wide margin, 40-29.
Aside from Catague and Manday, also part of the Underground team were Nick Fernandez, Jerlo Faltiquera, Kurt Sudayon, Sean Sajo, Clif Carian, Elmer Orano, Edgar Calpes, Nellbert Minerva, Mark Lacsina and Melbert Papio.
Next Gen regional director Mark Belangel said, with the success of this year’s Next Gen Hoops 4 Youth, there were plans to make it an annual sporting event and with plans of expanding it.
“We are glad that this turned out to be a successful event even if we just came from almost two years of hiatus from basketball competition due to the pandemic,” Belangel said.
“The plan is for it to be a yearly event and will also be a national event. Sa totoo lang, that was the plan this year but, due to COVID restrictions, naging regional event na lang muna,” he added./PN
