By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
With sports finally adapting to the new normal and utilizing online platforms as the main avenue, Guimaras province in Western Visayas made sure that it will not be left behind.
The Guimaras Players’ Center Sports Academy founded by West Visayas State University (WVSU) Sports Director Dr. Richard Gabayoyo hosted the first Zoom dunk competition in the region.
23 high-leapers graced the competition in a live Zoom online setting with Dr. Gabayoyo himself as the main moderator and organizer of the event.
Guimaras not only showed that they are capable of materializing such events but one of the main goals why Dr. Gabayoyo decided to push through with the Zoom dunk was to break barriers and show everyone that Guimarasnons are ready to embrace the new normal of sports.
The pride of Tamborong, San Lorenzo, Guimaras, 22-year-old Francis Pugao reigned supreme among his fellow Guimarasnons to take the Guimaras Players’ Center Sports Academy Zoom dunk championship title.
Falling short of one more spectacular dunk in the final match against Pugao was 17-year-old Michael Joe Igpuara of Salvacion, Buenavista, Guimaras who was one of the youngest competitors in the tourney.
Meanwhile, Joered Sorongon, also of Salvacion, won third-place honors.
Three judges from Aklan, Antique, and Iloilo were hand-picked by Dr. Gabayoyo to judge the tournament.
Mr. Rey Emmanuel Solano, the commissioner of SM National Basketball Training Center (SM NBTC) Aklan, Mr. Sunny Pardico, the commissioner of SM NBTC Antique, and Leobert Julian de la Peña of the Daily Guardian newspaper served as judges.
