Priests showcase hoop skills in Spring Rain Missions Cup

CEBU, Philippines - Priests from seven clergy teams will showcase their hoop skills in an inter-congregation basketball tournament billed as the 2nd Spring Rain Missions Cup. Organized by Spring Rain Global Consultancy, Inc. in coordination with the Archdiocese of Cebu, the four-day cagefest kicked off yesterday at the University of San Jose-Recoletos Basak campus gymnasium.

Unlike the first edition which is only participated in by Cebu teams, two out-of-town squads from the dioecese of Dumaguete and Alaminos in Pangasinan will take part in the competition this time.

The rest of the contenders are the Order of St. Augustine, Order of Augustinian Recollect, Diocese of Cebu All-Stars, Diocese of Cebu Selection and Order of Augustinian Discalced.

The charity event is for the benefit of  Kusina ni Santa Maria- a noontime feeding program for Cebuano indigents held every weekend. Other beneficiaries include the less fortunate students specially the seminarians.

“We have come from Luzon to participate in this special Cup because we want play for friendship and also for advocacies. We would like to really gain supporters for our work for the less privileged students especially for the seminarians,” said Monsignor Rey Ragudos, head of the Diocese of Alaminos in a press conference the other night at the Colegio del Sto. Niño. “There are many of them (students) who dreamed to be priests but some of them came from poor families and we would like to help them.”

Tickets are pegged at only P10. The organizers said there will be a raffle draw during the championship game in which P100,000 worth of prizes will be given away. (FREEMAN)