Liga ng mga Barangay opening day

Loon basketball fans and aficionados are going to have a thrilling and action-packed Christmas as the battle for hardcourt supremacy begun with the opening of the SK and LGU-Loon Inter-Barangay Basketball League 2009on Nov. 21, 2009 at the Loon Sports and Cultural Center.

Dynamic Loon Mayor Lloyd Peter M. Lopez, MD and Vice Mayor Edwin R. Ladeza, led local officials during the opening of the tournament which banners the theme, ”Paugnat sa Batan-ong Kusog Alang sa Maabtik ug Maakuhong Pag-alagad sa Katilingban.”Tweny-one teams are seeing action in this year’s edition of the inter-barangay basketball tournament, with powerhouse championship teams like Moto Sur, Cogon Norte, Napo and Basac leading the pack to provide non-stop entertainment for the whole duration of the holiday season.

Expected to challenge the four powerhouse teams are Moto Norte, Tangnan Lemurs, Cuasi, Cantomucad, Pondol, Sandingan Slingers, Cabilao, Catagbacan Sur Citi Transport, Catagbacan Norte Basketball Association (CBA), Catagbacan Handig, Song-on, Pig-ot, Canhangdon and the Tubodio, Canmanoc, Cogon Sur team.

Only players aging 25 years old and below are allowed to participate in the Inter-Barangay Christmas Basketball League, which is played through single round robin with teams going through an elimination round, semi-final, and final.

Handsome prizes await the winners. The champion will receive P20,000 cash prize plus trophy; second – P14,000 cash prize plus trophy; and third – P8,000 cash prize plus trophy. Non-winning teams will get a consolation prize of P2,000 each.

The opening of the league was enlivened by a parade of the participating teams around the main streets of the town and selection of Best Muse of the League and Best in Team Uniform.

Pretty and intelligent Carla Jane Francisco, muse of the Catagbacan (Norte) Basketball Association, was adjudged as Best Muse of the League. The board of judges was headed by Coy Ponte and members Joseph Ygay and Wowee Agbon. The petite student of the Sacred Heart Academy received her cash prize of P1,000.00 from SB Kagawads Ricky U. Masamayor, Precy Branzuela and Ignacio M. Castil, Jr.
The judges also gave their unanimous choice to Cuasi as Best in Team Uniform. The team received the cash prize of P1,000.00 from Vice Mayor Edwin LAdeza.

Loon SKMF chairman Ivaraxel Ericsson administered the Amateur Athlete’s Oath to the players while the SB Kag. Ignacio M. Castil, Jr., member of the Loon Sports Commission, officially declared the opening of the Inter-Barangay Christmas Basketball League. Sports Commissioner Zaldy Joseph Palma capped the afternoon’s activity through his message of thanks to Mayor Lopez, Vice Mayor Ladeza and the SK municipal federation for sponsoring the league. He also requested the players to exercise sportsmanship and play fairly in the coming hardcourt games.

In the opening game, Team Napo defeated Cantomucad, while the Tangnan Lemurs blasted the Cogon Norte dribblers.

The Inter-Barangay Christmas Basketball Tournament 2009 is one of the flagship programs of Mayor Lloyd Lopez to promote and develop the talents of the town's youth in sports, particularly basketball. To recall, the Loon Basketball Team is a top crowd-drawer and consistent champion whenever it participates in the Cong. Edgar M. Chatto Cup held annually at the OLTA Kolodrome in Tagbilaran City.