ARCHANGELS RISING
Governor’s Cup commences with Minglanilla Archangels emerging over Weavers Tournament opens bigger opportunities for players to get invites to the big league in PH basketball
The Cebu Governor’s Cup Inter-Cities/Municipalites Basketball Tournament has concluded and the Minglanilla Archangels proved to be the best team following their win in the deciding Game 3 last Sunday over the Consolacion Sarok Weavers.
But more than the P500,000 cash prize that Minglanilla won was the joy it gave its townsfolk who crowded the venues.
The tournament also gave hope to the players to earn athletic scholarships, such as the 13 players who received scholarship offers not just from Cebu schools, but from Manila schools as well.
One player was invited to practice for the Batang Gilas U18 team for next year’s Fiba Asia U18 Championship.
Joshua Balankig, the sweet-shooting guard from Paref-Springdale Titans who played for Siempre Samboa, spent more than a month training with the Batang Gilas for the U18 team.
Shaun Rafael Barola of Dalaguete AgriSaurs is now with the De la Salle Santiago Zobel Junior Archers of the UAAP High School, Jake Ervin Engbino of Talisay City Aqua Stars was recruited by the Adamsons University Falcons and Fritz Saladaga was recruited by Far Eastern University Tamaraws, but decided to return home to finish his apprenticeship as Marine Engineering student at the University of Cebu Maritime Education and Training Center.
Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) member schools also had their share with Minglanilla team captain Jiesel Tarrosa headed for the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, while his teammates Jan Josehn Mangaron and Marc Glenn Nebril were tapped by the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars.
Romyr Kirt Gonzaga of Tuburan got offers from the University of San Carlos Baby Warriors. His teammates Mike Parilla will play for the UV Baby Lancers and Miguelito Jusay will be playing with the University of Cebu Baby Webmasters.
UC also recruited Louie Jay Señagan of Samboan, while Jhamer Ranceli of Mandaue City is now part of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers.
However, the number of recruits could have shot up to 20 or more if not for the most common problem encountered by many scouts and recruiters–the academic achievements of the players, as most of those who stood out may have poorly performed in their academics. /