THE Negros Occidental secondary boys’ basketball team is facing a tough test against host-Iloilo for the 2018 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet at the Iloilo Sports Complex.
The Dennis Tumayan-mentored Negrense squad, which represented the defunct Negros Island Region in last year’s Palarong Pambansa, most likely will go through the needle’s hole if they want to return to the national games.
Donning the Negros Occidental team are STI West Negros University mainstays Dave Agbas, John Philip Majometano, Aldave Canoy, Beejay Deocampo, Kean Aldrich Agupitan, John Paul Malayas, John Mark Pamatian, Bonbrix Balontong, and Austine Jhon Arnol Laureno, and selections from University of St. La Salle (USLS) Polo Miguel Lopingco and RC Mike Flores, and Dritter Elalto from Don Bosco Technical Institute in Victorias.
Iloilo, the 2017 Palarong Pambansa silver medalists representing Western Visayas, is expected go out strong in front of their home crowd and possibly return to the national games to re-challenge National Capital Region in the gold medal match. It was recalled that NCR dominated Region 6 secondary basketball boys in the Palaro finals, 75-48.
The Atoy Callora Jr.-mentored Negros Occidental elementary cagers are bannered by Bacolod Tay Tung High School’s John Ordas, Thomas Pillado, Toni Siglos, Rafael Ledesma, Deylan Despi, Joshua Dignadice, Johnray Castiller, and Marvin de los Santos alongside selections Andrei Kaabay and Gabe Ortiz from USLS, Tristan Adricula from University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, and Sander Bayona from ETCS III.
In football, the Noreil Revilla-coached Negros Occidental elementary boys faced Aklan in yesterday’s opening match at the Central Philippine University. The winner will face Iloilo at 3 p.m. Playing for match No. 2 are Capiz and Antique.
Ian Combate’s secondary boys will take Capiz in their opening match at the Iloilo Sports Complex with the winner facing Iloilo at 3p.m.
Negros Occidental and Iloilo have long history of regional football rivalry.
The Negros Occidental secondary girls’ volleyball team will face Guimaras in the opener followed by Antique at the Iloilo Sports Complex. (HGD)