Ako Bicol Cup looks for Bicol’s finest basketball team

By Paulo DS. Papa

TO come up with a team of good basketball players from the Bicol Region that can vie well in the country’s big basketball tournaments, the Ako Bicol Partylist launched the Ako Bicol Cup last Saturday, March 25 at the Ka Fuerte Sports Complex, Provincial Capitol Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur.

In an interview, AKO Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon said that the tournament is intended to identify at least three most competitive teams in every Bicol province. These teams will play in a series of elimination rounds under the Bicol Champions’ League.

He said that the present tournament is expected to close after three months of a string of basketball games including elimination rounds and playoffs. He added, the same tournament will be launched in Camarines Norte and Sorsogon until they reach the island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate.

The launching of the Cup in Albay reeled off in November last year.

He admitted that there are import players from within and outside the region playing for competing teams to make a high level competition during the current elimination rounds.

Bongalon is confident that imports will encourage local basketball players to practice and play hard.

The Ako Bicol Cup is composed of 37 competing teams that represents 35 municipalities and two cities in Camarines Sur.

ATTY. Jil Bongalon (at the middle) leads the start of the Ako Bicol Cup tourney in Camarines Sur last March 25 at the Ka Fuerte Sports Complex. The ball game was started by the teams from Naga and Camaligan during game one. AKO BICOL Party List

As of this writing, the results of the elimination rounds are the following:

a) Naga vs Camaligan: 75-73

b) Tinambac vs San Jose: 80-89

c) Cabusao vs Del Gallego: 72-94

d) Lupi vs Ragay: 73-70

e) Sagñay vs Goa: 79-75

f) Gainza vs Pamplona: 81-99

g) Libmanan vs Milaor: 83-92