Wednesday, June 15, 2011

CHAMPIONSHIP: Ambassador Basketball League



CHAMPIONSHIP
What makes a champion? Brain? Brawn? Both? We have Pacquiao - the boxing champ, we have people who championed a cause, we have heroes, martyrs and champions. They all have one common denominator: dedication. Dedication encompasses perseverance, consistence, devotion, discipline and diligence and so much more. A real champion is fair and just - magnanimous in victory and noble in defeat.


The first tentative step taken gradually proved to be a steady and strong leap towards a successful culmination. Not an end per se, but the end of the first phase in a continuing process.

April 3, 2011 marked the beginning of The Ambassador Basketball League.  The followers of this league had shared the experience - the anticipation, the joy, the joint rejoicing of whoever is the winner at the moment. The ooohhhss and aaahhhsss for every  ‘almost and good’ shot, the admiration cast on each one who rebounds, who shoots, who assists, who helps – and of course the big hurrahhh for every bite of the snacks provided for the spectators.

This event actually brought out the inherent goodness of Filipinos. Benefactors abound. The opening ceremony was held at the Ambassador’s residence. The subsequent game was held at ACIC via Principal Mrs. Susan Gani.

And a surprise anonymous donor. A Filipino whose love for this sport must have triggered this generosity; he paid for the use of Hilton Transcorp Hotel Basketball Court every Sunday from 8:00 am to 12 noon. Except for Ms. Lani Pelaez and Dandriv  no one else knew him in person. Until now:
Engr. Andy Coluso

June 6, 2011 at Hilton Transcorp Hotel Basketball Court

As always the sporting facilities of Hilton Transcorp Hotel is very pleasant. The sprawling lawns emit a sweet scent of verdant grass and trees so fresh courtesy of Mother Nature.

Sunday morning of June 6 was perfect. There was excitement in the air.

Trophies were on display.

Loyal fans, cheerers and supporters and plain spectators came to witness the championship game. The Basketball Teams looked splendid in their uniforms – ready for the battle ahead.



Battle for the Third Place

Blue Team – Pink Lagooners vs White Team – W@Tel

It seemed the Pink Lagooners had picked up steam along the way. The battle for the 3rd place actually pumped more adrenalin in their veins. And they were enjoying it.                                                       The White Team was as cool as ever; playing the best they could.

                             1st Half                  2nd Half                 Total

BLUE                      12                           19                           31

WHITE                   10                           12                           22

Championship Game:

Yellow Team – Philippine Embassy Team vs Black Team – Black Mambas

Both teams wore that kind of confidence before a battle. Reaching this stage made them eager to take the trophy. And the result was an exciting game. The Yellow team edged out the Black team as they take shots after shots with precision. The black team played as well as their opponent and denied the yellows from getting a higher score.

                            1st Half                  2nd Half                 Total

YELLOW                15                           15                           30

BLACK                   8                              11                           19

3 – POINTS SHOOTOUT

Two players from each team were selected. Each player has 90 seconds to shoot 25 balls in 5 positions within 3 – pt arc. One (1) point is awarded per ball that made the successful shot. Actually five (5) balls are supposed to be in the five (5) different positions which would be 25 balls in all. The players will just dash to every position to maximize the use of the 90 seconds.

Result:                                                 Points



BLUE      -                    Doods                   3

              Renz                     8



WHITE   -                     Aldrin                 12

               Aron                     1



BLACK   -                     Erwin                   8

               Sherwin               2



YELLOW                      Tirso                    3

               JR                         6



Winner with TWELVE POINTS: Aldrin of W@Tel


                                 RECIPIENTS and Presenters 
                                        OF THE  AWARDS
                                                                                                   
MS. AMBASSADOR BASKETBALL LEAGUE 2011  

Miss Teri Mabansag  

By Lito Nucum

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD                                

Aldrin Gianan            

By Vangie Novio

BEST TEAM IN UNIFORM                                   

Blue Team aka Pink Lagooners

By Antonio Santos

3-POINT SHOT CHAMPION                               

Aldrin Gianan            

By John Hernandez

DARLING OF THE CROWD                                 

Gel Llames                            

                     By Bernie & Maris Mercado

                        MYTHICAL 3                                                            

Tirso Percia   

Erwin Herrera          

Nelson Dioneda        

By Nonits & Otie Barraquias

Represented by Annie Okoye

  and Naj Nhur

                          MOST VALUABLE PLAYER                                 

Emmanuel Ramos, Jr.         

By Susan Gani

represented by Tess Azarcon

                           
                         3rd RUNNER-UP                                                       

White Team aka W@Tel       

By Dr. Engr. Lawrence Ekemezie

                           represented by Sherwin Cayabyab
                         2nd RUNNER-UP                                                         
                   Blue Team  aka Pink Lagooners           
                             By Engr. Andy Coluso
                           Represented by Lani Pelaez
                                     1st RUNNER-UP                                                 
                        Black Team aka Black Mambas         
                          By Con-Gen Alex La Madrid
                                                                                              
                               CHAMPION                                                         
Yellow Team  aka Philippine Embassy Team   
                    By Ambassador Nestor Padalhin
And as promised, the basketball league fostered  camaraderie 
and unity and  enhanced the physical and mental awareness – 
a sound mind in a sound body - not only for the players 
but also among spectators’  -  ABL delivered.


 


At Stake: Trophies and medals
The Philippine Ambassador HE Nestor Padalhin in a ceremonial touch of the ball for the main game: Black Mambas vs the Philippine Embassy team. Capt. Erwin of the Black Mambas and Capt. JayRLyn of the Philippine Embassy team

The Philippine Ambassador flanked by Efren, the Referee and Chairman Willi with Antonio Santos, the timekeeper and the ladies Marlene and Elsie, the flag-bearers and help volunteers; Vangie at the awarding ceremony; cross-section of spectators and observers

Spectators in and out of the court

Photo ops before the game: Fely and Vangie under the Calabash Tree

The White Team aka W@Tel: Vincent, Gilbert, Aron, Aldrin, Emmel, Buboy  vs the Blue Team aka Pink Lagooners: Renz, Gel, Doods, JR (not in picture); posing with Arnel, Willi, Clifford and JRLyn; Efren nag ka- cara 'y cruz na naman - ayan and Jrlyn looks on.

The battle for the 3rd place rages on...

...and displayed the best of each player


Aldrin concedes a noble defeat: di naman sila nag lulupasay. Wala lang talagang maupuan...; AAAAAANNNNDDDD THE WINNER: hulaan na lang nyo - bagsik, meyyynnn!
Atta gurlll with her number one fan: Jamie
The Black Mambas: Gilbert, Sherwin, Donald, Erwin, John, Noel (was not able to play, he's posted in Kano)


The Black Mambas family: Wala si JT, di magkasya ang uniform, time-out ang G at Gng Nonits Barraquias (me sakit), si Benjie, 'ala din, di naman daw sila maglalaro ni Tikboy, si Noel nasa Kano.
The main event: Black Mambas vs the undefeated Yellow Team - Philippine Embassy Team; HE Nestor Padalhin with Efren in the touchdown; Capt Erwin and Capt Jrlyn with Efren tossing the coin; JRLyn confirming  (tama, tama nga...limang piso 'yan!)
The Yellow Team: Tirso, Nelson, JRLyn, Nhur and James; with Mrs. Lyn Ramos (pang - pabwenas )
A game to remember...
Time out for small pep talk...
Kung ang Black team ay may offense na blocking, di po ba tama na ang yellow team ay yellowing naman (ayun kay Renz) ? Ano po ang masasabe nyo Ginoong Clifford?
Taking the last shot...
Chatting with the scorer; Vangie, Tess, Annie; Khaye, Annie, Tess
The three-point shot...2 players from each team...
Still trying...


Awarding Ceremony: Vangie; Fely leading the National Anthem; Lynn with the prayers
Muslim prayers led by Jabar; HE Nestor Padalhin renders his speech, as the spectators listened.
Miss ABL 2011 Teri Mabansag. Mr. Lito Nucum presenting the trophy and the Sash.
Aldrin, The Sporstman, receiving his trophy. (Aldrin: 'hhhmmmmnnnn, ano kaya ang nakalagay dito dati?')
Ang Blue Team - Pink Lagooners habang naghihintay sa taga-abot ng trophy sa kanila na si Ernel
Best Uniform:  Blue Team - Pink Lagooners

3 POINT SHOT CHAMPION AWARDED TO ALDRIN OF THE WHITE TEAM BY JOHN HERNANDEZ
DARLING OF THE CROWD - GEL LLAMES - a very likeable fellow indeed!
The Mythical Three - Tirso, Erwin and Nelson
MVP - EMMANUEL RAMOS, JR sharing the trophy with his wife Lyn
3rd Runner-up W@Tel
2nd Runner-up Pink Lagooners

1st Runner-up Black Mambas
CHAMPION: Philippine Embassy Team shown here with HE Nestor Padalhin and wife Annie, Con-Gen Alex Lamadrid with Manager Teofie
A little posing here and there with the trophy for Sherwin - and plain pose practice for Tikboy, Gel, Erwin, Donald, Lito. Miss ABL 2011 under the calabash tree.

The Calabash Tree had become a friendly landmark throughout the duration of the game. At first sight ' ano kayang prutas ito? parang pakwan na parang n'yog naman .' That seemed to be what Mrs. Padalhin is telling the Ambassador. Here, the Ambassador and wife Annie, Con-Gen Lamadrid, Fely, Jabar and the 2 new embassy staff posed under the tree.
Such is the enchantment of the tree - one would feel  relaxed and tensions ebbed away...

























 


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