THERE was no denying the Oro dribblers from ruling anew the secondary boys’ basketball competition of the 2016 regional meet held for the first time in Camiguin Island.
The Cagayan de Oro Athletic Association (COAA) wards of coach Carlomagno Dagalea, composed of Corpus Christi and St. Mary’s School students, dumped host Camiguin, 118-109 in the championship game held Friday morning, December 16, at the ABC gym in Mambajao, Camiguin.
“A win by Cagayan de Oro is no longer a surprise. What was really surprising is Camiguin’s entry in the basketball finals kay perennial underdog man gayud ang Camiguin sukad pa sa una (since Camiguin is a perennial underdog from the beginning),” one COAA coach texted VoxPop Cagayan de Oro.
The Oro dribblers made it to the finals after besting Bukidnon, 91-68 in the semifinal round.
COAA’s hardest fights were in the elimination round, cruising past Malaybalay City by only seven points, 78-71 in the second game and Valencia City by mere three, 77-74 in the quarterfinals.
They opened their campaign in the beautiful island of Camiguin by rout against Misamis Oriental’s component city of Gingoog, 93-54 and closed out the elimination matches by disposing of Iligan, 94-62.
Meanwhile, The COAA team has been assured of a strong fight in chess in the coming Palarong Pambansa after majority of its entries were able to hurdle the challenge from rival teams.
Xavier University’s Tristan Ibaoc and Othniel Yulo topped the secondary boys chess, while Gwen Escarda from Millenium and Lorebina Carrasco II from West City Central School bagged the Palaro seats in elementary girls level.
Jasaan’s Clyde Saraos and Corpus Christi’s David Rey Ancheta were the topnotchers in elementary boys chess.
“Kusog nga mga pairing ang nangdaug (Strong pairs won the competition). So, expected nga naa tay strong fight sa (So, it is expected to have strong fight in) chess in the coming Palarong Pambansa,” said Gwen’s father, Glen Escarda via mobile phone call.
