The Abanse Negrense Governor’s Cup 5-on-5 Basketball Tournament (A Tribute to Dodong Bascon’s Contributions to Negros Basketball) championship game at the STI-West Negros University (STI-WNU) gymnasium on December 10 saw the home-court advantage, with the STI-WNU (TEJ Builders) team emerged victorious.
After two years of stringent health protocols and safety measures in holding tournaments and sports activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, basketball fans incredibly missed the excitement of watching live ball games.
Proof was the crowd at the STI-WNU gymnasium on Saturday, where deafening yells and cheers from spectators filled and shook the venue throughout the ultimate battle for the strongest 21-under basketball team.
It was a closely fight game between STI-WNU (TEJ Builders) and Dumaguete City (Royal Star Trading) as they vied for the championship.
In the end, STI-WNU nabbed the title with a five-point lead against Dumaguete City, resulting in final score of 90-85.
As the champion, STI-WNU received a cash prize of P30,000 and a trophy. Runner-up Dumaguete City received P20,000 in cash plus a trophy.
In the battle for third, Bacolod City – ABB defeated E. B. Magalona with a score of 98-85. The former received P10,000 as a cash prize and a trophy for third place.
Special awards were also given to the Mythical Five, Matthew Jucom of Dumaguete City (Royal Star Trading), Rommel Hechanova of E. B. Magalona, Jezryl Puyong of Bacolod City – ABB, Austine Laureno and Paul Bautista of STI-WNU (TEJ Builders).
Each member of the Mythical Five team received P1,000 in cash and in medals. Austine Laureno was also recognized as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the tournament’s awarding ceremony, with Provincial Sports Office head Anthony Carlo Agustin, former 5th District Board Member Agustin Ernesto “Tinto” Bascon, and Bascon Family Matriarch Carminia “Menchit” Bascon.
The Governor’s Cup 5-on-5 Basketball Tournament was intended to honor the legacy of the late Oscar “Dodong” Bascon, one of the pillars of basketball in the province.
It was also part of the Abanse Negrense Grassroots Sports Development Programs initiated by Lacson.*
