THEY’RE always known as the bedrock of badminton talents in Misamis Oriental, even producing top-notch shuttlers for the prestigious universities in Manila.
But the rest of the province’s towns and municipalities will remember the component City of Gingoog as the breeding ground too of the region’s top volleyball players.
The latest edition of the Siglakas Volleyball Invitational Tournament held from late 2022 up to 2023 can simply manifest it all.
Much more, the guest teams from the Provincial Capitol whose men and women’s spikers earnestly campaigned in the long-running Gingoog Siglakas.
Spearheaded by the Provincial Sports Development Office (PSDO) head Francis Sean Condeza and playing coach Reynante Rameri, the Capitol bets easily took comfort as the teams to beat after finishing the elimination games undefeated.
In the championship games, however, the homegrown teams eventually showed their true colors while unmasking the visitors’ hidden weaknesses in the process.
The losers in their first meeting during the opening day of hostilities at the Arturo S. Lugod gymnasium, the Gingoog local government ladies were all seething with revenge as they clamped down the Capitol Hotties in three-straight sets, 25-20, 25-18, 25-19 for the crowning glory.
The Gingoog-DPWH team was also unforgiving in dominating the Capitol boys in another three-setter, 25-22, 25-8, 25-20 contested at the People’s Palace Ground just in front of the Gingoog City Hall.
“Kusog gyod diay sila (Gingoog teams) sa championship na gipagawas ilang tunay nga lakas. But going home with a couple of runner-up trophies is already quite a blessing,” said the Capitol’s team sports consultant Zosimo Vicente Seriña-Tan-gan.
Playing for the DPWH-MOFDEO-Gingoog are Dino Emmanuel Raya, Tyrone Emmanuel Raya, Jeraldon Gabayran, Roldan Gabayran, Christian Valenzuela, Nigelle Nicholet Bayhon, Ian Mark Tomimbang, Manuel Tomimbang, Ricardo Abugutal, John Ayensa, and Alvin Rey Babia.
Comprising the Gingoog local government women’s team are Karen Cornelio, Irishly Abogatal, Grethel Guno, Antoinette Awayan, Joy Pelayo, Nilda Escultor, Cristita Escol, Melissa Alumius, Dianne Javier, Cindy Ogentio, Vilma Rijonar, and the hands-down MVP Hanna Shayne Pansacala, with coach Anna Lou Bajao.
Gracing the closing rites of the annually-held tourney are Gingoog City Administrator Dr. Enrique Guevarra in lieu of City Mayor Erick Cañosa, Gingoog Sports Facilitator Tedd Julius Javier, Provincial Sports Executive Director Efren Pollentes and Provincial Sports Coordinator Francis Condeza.
The complete results are the following:
Men’s Division:
Champion – Department of Public Works and Highways/Gingoog
1st Runner Up – Misamis Oriental Provincial Office
2nd Runner Up – Gingoog local government
3rd Runner Up – Department of Education-Division of Gingoog
Women’s Division:
Champion – Gingoog local government
1st Runner Up – Misamis Oriental Provincial Office
2nd Runner Up – Department of Public Works and Highways/Gingoog
3rd Runner Up – Department of Education – Division of Gingoog
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