By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After 11 long months, basketball is back in the City of Love.
Through the initiative of commissioner and founder of the JB Amateur Basketball League (JB ABL) Jayphet Balbacal, Iloilo City brought back basketball to energize the hundreds of Ilonggo hoops fanatics.
After a series of thorough meetings with the Iloilo City Sports Development Division and Executive Assistant for Sports Mr. Rudiver Jungco Sr., Balbacal was able to create definite guidelines in line with the Covid-19 health and safety protocols.
Upon receiving the green light from the Iloilo City Government, Balbacal did not waste his time and immediately began with his basketball festivities.
To kick off his lineup of basketball events, Balbacal and the rest of the JB ABL committee had a three-point shootout tournament divided into three categories: The JB ABL category, ball club category, and the executive/team owner category.
Claps and smiles filled the Lapaz gym after Ilonggo basketball enthusiasts reunited to support and participate in the event of the JB ABL.
It was a treat to see the deadliest Ilonggo shooters vie for the top spot and engage in a shooting exhibition as over 30 participants registered with hopes of clinching the pot money at stake.
Under the executive category, Jojo Bangeles of Team Malditos reigned supreme against the other team owners after staying consistent from the elimination round to the championship round.
Meanwhile, in the JB ABL category, Inno Miclat of Team ODM Sportswear proved that he is still one of the most elite shooters in Iloilo City after clinching the championship trophy while putting his reputation as the Dinagyang Cup three-point shootout king at stake.
It was one of the most thrilling championship matches as he went toe-to-toe against Alvin Tolosa of Team Systemic in a tie-breaker-finals where Miclat won, 16-12.
Meanwhile, in the ball club category, Tigbauan’s finest shooter Peter Traviña and carrying the banner of Team Tigbauan Ninjas, prevailed over 26 shooters and took home the championship.
Traviña is a member of the Western Institute of Technology men’s basketball varsity team and is training under the helm of Portia Bernila and Ronald Julaton.
For the last part of the event, people went crazy when Traviña and Miclat decided to have a crossover championship showdown with a certain amount from their cash prize up for grabs.
Traviña shot the lights out and closed the show after edging Miclat, 16-12, and will go home as JB ABL’s two-category overall champion.
“Thankful gd ako nga nagging successful ang aton event. Dako nga pasalamat ko sa sponsors, sa mga nagsupport, sa mga nag join, kag kay Mr. Rudiver Jungco Sr. kag sa team ya sa support. Umpisa pa lang ni. May skills, dunk, and 3-on-3 pa ta!” said Balbacal during an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.
