3rd Lou Ornopia caging unfolds Saturday in Calambua

CEBU, Philippines - It's green and go for the 3rd Barangay Captain Lou Ornopia Developmental Basketball League this Saturday at the Calambua open court in San Remigio town north of Cebu.

A total of P50,000 in cash prize is up for grabs in the annual tilt that features the inter-barangay for 18-under hoopsters and the inter-Purok for players aged 15 years old and below. The inter-barangay category will be participated in by teams from different schools in their area.

"I'm proud to say that we're now on our third year and our focus this time is to harness the athletic talents of our youth up to the grassroots level. As we all know, sports is a very effective tool in keeping the young ones away from vices that is why we're giving our all-out support to this endeavor. And who knows, one of the future stars in Cebu basketball will come from our place," said event organizer Lou Ornopia.

The tournament follows a single round robin format for both divisions, with the top four advancing into the semifinals. They will play another round robin and the top two qualifiers will then fight it our for the championship in a winner-take-all affair.

Aside from the top performing teams, the outstanding individual achievers will also be feted such as the regular season MVP and the Mythical Five at the end of the competition, which is among the highlights of Calambua's fiesta celebration next month.

To better prepare the game officials and the competitors as well, Ornopia said they held a basketball clinic and officiating seminar spearheaded by Ed Aguelo of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) and Alan Cardenas of the Cebu Basketball Referees Association (CEBRA).

On the other hand, Ornopia has tapped Jaime Pepito, the teacher-in-charge of the Calambua Integrated High School, as chairman of the committee on sports that will supervised the month-long event presented by MS Motosuit, F & FO Motor Parts, RMO Motor Parts, Anie Navarez, New MS Apartelle, Motomaze, Aike Motor Parts,  JCO Motor Parts, Diosdado Navarez, Pro Speed Motorparts, NF Enterprises, 94 MC Parts, Rizmar de la Peña, Evelyn Concillado, and ABC Garments.

It is also backed up by Cebu Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, Provincial Board Members Sun Shimura and Joven Mondigo, and San Remigio Vice Mayo Al Pestolante. —EBV (FREEMAN)