LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – It’s all systems go for the kick-off ceremonies on March 16 of the 1st Pangasinan Inter – Local Government Unit (LGU) Unity Games sponsored by the provincial government led by Governor Amado I. Espino, III.
Provincial Sports Consultant Modesto Operania said during a coordination meeting with LGU representatives held on March 14 at the Ricafort Restaurant located within the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) that the staging of the LGU Unity Games – a brainchild project of Governor ‘Pogi’ Espino – seeks to promote camaraderie among municipal and city LGUs in the province aside from being an avenue for physical fitness promotion among LGU employees.
Operania, Executive Officer of the Pangasinan Sports Development and Management Council, said that 26 LGUs in the province have confirmed participation to the unity games which highlight basketball tournament for male employees and volleyball tournament for female employees.
Governor Espino is expected to lead the kick-off ceremony of the LGU unity games at the NRSCC gymnasium.
Game proper for basketball and volleyball immediately follows after the ceremonial tip-off led by Governor Espino.
Tournament Commissioner Edilberto Abalos said that the participating LGUs are divided into two, such as: cities and 1st and 2nd class municipalities; and 3rd to 5th class municipalities.
Division I has two clusters: Western Conference and Eastern Conference. Competing LGU teams for basketball include Alaminos City, San Carlos City, Sual, Binmaley, Mangatarem, Bugallon, Calasiao, Sta. Barbara (western conference) and Urdaneta City, Bayambang, Malasiqui, Mangaldan, San Fanian, Pozorrubio, San Nicolas and Umingan (eastern conference). For volleyball, competing teams include: Alaminos City, Sual, Binmaley, Mangatarem, Calasiao and Sta. Barbara (western conference) and Urdaneta City, Bayambang, Malasiqui, Rosales, Umingan and San Nicolas (eastern conference).
LGU participants in Division II, on the other hand, include: Aguilar, Urbiztondo, Mapandan, Sison, Basista, Bautista, Laoac and Sta. Maria (basketball) and Aguilar, Urbiztondo, Sison, Burgos, Bautista and Laoac (volleyball).
By Dexter A. See
