Boxing organization holds basketball tournament for kids

CEBU, Philippines - As a part of its drug-free program for kids in the Philippines, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and SGG Sports Promotions are organizing the first WBO Kids Drug-Free Basketball Tournament, which kicked off yesterday at Greenhills Subdivision Sports and Leisure Park in Brgy. Casuntingan, Mandaue City .

The week-long contest is participated in by four teams consisting of players aged 19 years old and below.

The contending squads are Greenhills Subdivision (Gold), Yocra (Black), Agro Macro (Red) and Casuntingan (Blue).

The opening salvo was graced by no less than WBO vice president Leon Panoncillo and the highly esteemed SGG Promotions president Sammy "Don King" Gello-ani.

“We are very lucky that we are given the chance to support this program to keep kids away from drugs through sports,” said Panoncillo. “We are here to give support and we promise to do this every year and to reach out to the Filipino youth.”

This is the third year that the WBO has chosen Cebu as beneficiary for its outreach project.

Its first year was spent with children at the Asilo de la Medalla Milagrosa and SOS Children’s Place, while the second time was with the school children of Barangay Mabolo wherein they distributed hundreds of backpacks full of school supplies.

The champion team will receive a mountainbike for each member. Exciting prizes will also be given away to the second and third placers.

The awarding ceremony will serve as a sidelight to the "Pinoy Knockout" fight card bannered by former world champion ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Sonsona against Carlos Fulgencio of Dominican Republic on February 25 at the Hoops Dome in Brgy. Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City. (FREEMAN)