By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The biggest basketball league in Iloilo City is officially back.
After weeks of tune-up games and dry runs, the JB Amateur Basketball League (JB ABL) officially began its season with 10 teams vying for the coveted championship trophy.
Now that Iloilo City is under the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Alert Level 2, JB ABL also made sure that all health and safety precautions set by commissioner and founder Jayphet Balbacal were strictly followed.
Season II officially commenced as the young and upcoming TOTO TIA TEN-XYZ Elite Lab clashed with team Medics in the first game of the second season.
However, TOTO TIA TEN’s speed and athleticism prevailed over team Medics after crushing them, 79-64, for their first win of the season.
It was a tightly-contested ball game in the first three quarters but Elite Lab’s three-point shooting suddenly came alive that paved the way for their offensive attack to close the show.
Meanwhile, in the second game, the veteran-stacked Forever Smile team imposed their will against the OJNA-Nymphspring, 74-61.
Forever Smile’s Bong Talimay took control of the game midway in the second half and fired a game-high 16-point performance to seal their first win of the young season.
The third game featured an action-packed duel between team Malditos and the Systemic Farm Chemical squad.
Team Systemic was able to hold their ground and withstand the firepower of Malditos, 68-59, off a solid outing from Agapito Clarito who clinched player of the game honors with 20 points.
In the last and final game of Season II’s first day, team ODM Sportswear prevailed over the tough Pepsi team, 71-58.
Elvis Lencioco showed the way for team ODM after contributing 12 huge points while also grabbing player of the game honors.
JB ABL would like to thank the squad fire volunteer group, Wilson PH, Switch Iloilo by Joseph Guion of MPBL’s team Basilan, the MH del Pilar barangay council, TUF Barbershop, and Blackwater by CTG Commercial.
“Gusto ko gd pasalamatan tanan kay natigayon ang aton nga JB ABL Season II opening. Grateful gd katama kay balik na kita amat amat from where we used to be but we still have to follow protocols ah. Would like to extend my thanks to the squad fire volunteer group sa action nga ginubra due to some minor injuries sa games nga indi ta man gusto matabo. Kitakits sa next nga mga games, tune in lang sa amon FB live,” said Balbacal during an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.
