Bulacan sweeps cage events
IBA, Zambales – Bulacan swept the gold medals in boys and girls secondary basketball to cap another impressive performance in the 2012 Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) Meet, which ended yesterday at the Zambales Sports Center.
Rolando Agustin scattered 32 points as Bulacan, represented by Jesus Is Lord Christian School in Bocaue, routed Pampanga, 99-81, in the boys’ finals.
Jem Pasion, on the other hand, fired 18 points to carry the Bulakeñas to an easy 66-29 victory over Angeles City in girls’ play.
“We hope that everyone enjoyed their short stay in the province,” said Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. during the closing ceremonies at the sports center his administration refurbished to national-standard level. “And we are enthusiastic at hosting the CLRAA again in 2013.”
Using their height advantage that complemented their fluid running game, Bulacan opened a 51-34 half-time lead and never looked back to atone for a third-place finish last year in Malolos.
“I only have two veterans from last year’s team this time and this is also my first time to handle this team. But my experience in the PBA helped me train them professionally and motivate them properly,” said former UP stalwart and PBA playerassistant coach Joseph “Ogie” Gumatay.
Bulacan’s lady dribblers unleashed a relentless full court press that saw Angeles City limited to just three points in the second period to turn a slim 11-9 lead into a 37-15 advantage by half time.
Bulacan’s elementary girls volleyball team delivered the delegation’s third gold medal on the day of the games, which gathered more than 10,000 athletes and officials from the host province, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Aurora.
They easily dispatched Angeles City, 25-10, 25-23.
Angeles City’s secondary girls volleyball team, however, got back at Bulacan with a thrilling 22-25, 25-18, 27-25, 27-29, 15-10 victory to retain the title.
Burly spiker Mary Angeline Cutiongco was a power of strength for Angeles City at the net, but what hurt Bulacan’s campaign most were their unforced errors especially in the deciding set of the two-hour match.
Tournament officials from the Department of Education, meanwhile, were still determining the official result of the CLRAA to determine the official overall champion as of early afternoon Friday.