LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Team Binmaley and Team Lingayen continue their 7-game winning streak as Pangasinan’s premier sports league—Governor’s Cup Inter-town Basketball Tournament—staged its simultaneous weekend round-robin elimination games in four venues on January 14-15.
The basketball tourney, a pet project of Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III, sees the clash of the finest teams composed of 14 cagers aged 18-24 from every participating town and city of the province.
“We are mounting this tournament to teach among young players fair play, competitiveness and most especially – respect in representing their hometowns and cities,” the governor said in an earlier statement.
As envisioned by the governor, the most promising players from the games will be part of Pangasinan Teams 1 and 2 which will be formed after the tournament to represent the province in the Philippine National Games and other invitational matches.
Both Binmaley and Lingayen teams are the hoopsters to beat in their respective conferences.
Binmaley prevailed in the January 14 game, 106, versus Malasiqui, 93; and on January 15 match, 98, vs. San Carlos City, 77. The same story unfolds for Lingayen in the Western Conference held in Bugallon Gym as it scored a back-to-back triumph in the same weekend games: 86 vs. Alaminos City, 76 on Jan. 14; 116 vs. Sual, 99 on Jan. 15.
In the Central Conference held at the Urbiztondo Gym, Bayambang and Calasiao trail Binmaley with 6-1 win-loss record respectively, followed by a far margin of 4-3 record by Malasiqui and Mapandan.
Rounding off the team standing in the Central Conference are: Mangatarem, 3-4; Sta. Barbara, 2-5; Urbiztondo and San Carlos City, both 2-6; and Basista, 0-7.
Bugallon and Alaminos City are too close to call in the runner-up slot of the Western Conference, both with 7-1 advantage. Behind are Labrador and Anda (4-3), Aguilar (3-4), Bolinao (2-5), and Bani and Sual (1-6), with Burgos struggling for its first win (0-7).
Meanwhile, a two-way lead is seen in the Northern Conference held at Mangaldan Gymnasium as Villasis and Manaoag register 5-1 record. Closing in is Mangaldan, logging a 5-2 play.
Having played the least number of games in the league, Team Sto. Tomas aced all its 4 all-win hard court appearances.
Team Laoac is caught in the middle ground of the Northern Conference’s team standing, being fifth with a 4-3 record. Completing the tally are: Alcala, San Fabian, Bautista and San Jacinto in a four-way tie for the last place with 1 win and 5 losses play each.
A neck-and-neck battle was also witnessed in the Eastern Conference held at Tayug Gym as Asingan and Urdaneta City both log a 5-1 record for the lead. Tayug comes next in the third spot, 5-2.
Ranking fourth to eight places are San Manuel (4-2), San Nicolas (4-3), Natividad (3-3), Rosales (1-5) and Sta. Maria (1-6).
San Quintin is still in search of its maiden victory due to a 0-5 string of defeats, 2 of which are collateral damage of loss by default in a match with Natividad last Jan. 14 and Urdaneta last Jan. 15.
By Dexter A. See