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FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 15, 2017
Sports
Calgary’s Most Competitive Basketball League
Hitmen Won vs Broncos (3-2 ) during Hockey’s Multicultural Night
Who’s Who in the FCBL
DF
Marietta Pangan-Dutkoski ASST EDITOR IN-CHIEF
6,272 in total attendance including Jacob Del Castillo, 10, Filipino Canadian who set foot at the “Dome” for the first time . He thoroughly enjoyed the game and cheered for the home team, Calgary Hitmen. The game was opened by singing the ‘Oh Cana-
da’, by the fast uprising singer and Hitmen favourite, Mary Kate Aquino, a Filipina-Calgarian. The rookie Tristen Nielsen brought the winning puck in the eighth round for Hitmen to come to a 3-2 victory over against visitor Swift Current Broncos. Several countries and organizations are represented at the Hitmen vs Broncos Multicultural Night on February 11,
2017. Among them are the Filipino community which were represented by Diaryo Filipino and PIOCC- Sulong Kalayaan officers and members. A Mosaic of culture from Japan, Jamaica, Hungary, Greece, France, Lebanon, Italy, St. Lucia, Pakistan , Haiti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Philippines, Dominican Republic, China and SAIT International make up the entire cheering audience.
Fresh, Foggy in Dogfight for First in FCBL Play DF
Martiniano Lopez
Defending champion Fresh and archival Foggy Gorilla are jostling for the top seed in the upcoming Filipino Community Basketball League (FCBL) playoffs. Bannered by former local collegiate stars Steve Trinidad and Jerome Makasiar, Fresh, as of press time, cards a 4-1 win-loss record and are in a neck-to-neck race with Foggy Gorilla for the lead in Group A, the elite division in FCBL play. Foggy, meanwhile, currently also sports an identical 4-1 record to stake their claim for the overall top seed in the playoffs. As usual, the trio of former PBA player Kelvin Dela Pena and ex-high school stars Aris Dela Paz
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and Paul Gulfo are spearheading title drive for the Ronald Dadivas-coached Gorillas. Asked for his playoffs prediction, FCBL President Zaldy Parales thinks Fresh has the inside track for the 2017 FCBL title. “Mahirap silang talunin kung kumpleto sila (It’s hard to beat them if they are full force.)”, Mr. Parales offered in an interview recently. FCBL founder Abe Damian concurred with the observation. In a conversation last month, Mr. Damian said, “Sa tingin ko, ‘kumpletos rekados’ ang Fresh. Mahihirapan ang Foggy (Fresh is a complete team. Foggy will have a hard time.).” Of course, the competition is not limited to Fresh and Foggy Gorilla. They are the favourites, but there are
other teams with serious shot at winning the FCBL title. Other contenders for the 2017 FCBL crown include MJ BBQ led by brothers Omar and Merv Villaroman, upstart Onward Immigration headed by Pat Cay and Marvin Liongson, and dark horse PASOC, the Group B leader, which features sharpshooter Jay Cenzon and all-around forward Michael Abalorio. Sponsored by longtime Calgary basketball supporter Alex Briones (Royal LePage Benchmark), the elimination stage of FCBL will run until the end of February. After which, playoffs will begin on Sunday, March 5th. The FCBL plays its games at Vision Sports Centre (7475 Flint Road SE).
Martiniano Lopez
In four short years, the Filipino Community Basketball League (FCBL) has grown to become the strongest league in Calgary. The primary reason, of course, is talent. The southwest-based league has, by far, the best accumulation of accomplished players of any Filipino league in the city. The FCBL features the best of the best. Whether Calgary-grown or Philippine-bred, if they’re force to be reckoned with, you’d probably find them showcasing their skills in the FCBL. Among Calgary-grown players, the list includes former PBA player Kelvin Dela Pena (Foggy Gorilla), former Mount Royal University varsity players Steve Trinidad and Jerome Makasiar (Fresh), SAIT varsity cagers Justin Makasiar (Fresh), Marcus Bautista (CleanPro), and Pat Cay (Onward), and Ambrose University dunker Paul Gulfo (Foggy Gorilla). In the list, the most accomplished, of course, are Kelvin Dela Pena and Steve Trinidad. Kelvin, a Mapua Cardinal who played his high school ball in Calgary, was once the MVP in the NCAA. He, of course, reached the highest levels of basketball, having played in the PBA and with the Calgary Crush, a pro team that competed in the American Basketball Association. Steve, on the other hand, was the starting guard of the Mount Royal Cougars when they won the Cana-
dian Collegiate Athletic Association’s (CCAA) championship in 2009. In 2012, his senior year, he led the Cougars in scoring at 20.5 clip, as they finished with the silver medal in the CCAA nationals. The FCBL also feature scoring machines Aris Dela Paz (Foggy Gorilla) and Omar Villaroman (MJ BBQ. Both were stalwarts for their respective Calgary high school teams earlier in their basketball journeys. Aris was the starting point guard for Father Lacombe High School, which was a city contender in the early 2000s, while Omar, for his part, was a high-flying guard for Bishop Grandin High School. Easily, the high-scoring duo could have played post-secondary ball, but they have instead chosen to pursue more urgent economic opportunities. For FCBL players who honed their ball skills in our homeland, the tally includes former Adamson University Falcon Harold Butron (Jenrich), past PSBA mainstay Jojo Alave (Batangas Blades), ex-Colegio de San Lorenzo point guard Jepoy Lim (Foggy Gorilla), one-time NCBA Wild Cat Ronald Dadivas (Foggy Gorilla), erstwhile San Beda player Jojo Yambao (MJ BBQ), and recent University of Luzon lead guard Joshua Gutierrez (Hellcats). Harold Butron, as most of us Calgary basketball fans know, is currently trying his luck in the PBA D-League. Jojo Alave, for his part, has done this and has done that. He once was a high-scoring forward in collegiate play, and
starred for a few years in commercial leagues in the Philippines. In his hey days, Jepoy Lim, meanwhile, registered a double-double in helping Colegio de San Lorenzo upset a Ranidel Ocampo-led Saint Franci Assisi team. (Yes, folks, it’s the same Ranidel Ocampo, GIlas Pilipinas long-time starting stretch four). For rising stars, watch out for Bryce Solis (Friday Boys Club). At age 15, he’s already averaging double figures in the FCBL. In the future, we might also see Terence Crisostomo play in the FCBL. The Calgary product, currently one of the lead guards at Fort Mac’s Keyano College, was twice a member of Team Alberta at the Canadian Nationals. Hopefully, so will Alonzo Tan. Only 15 years old, Alonzo, a thrilling talent, was part of Team Alberta at the Canadian Nationals last year. The bedrock of a good league is talent. The NBA thrives because of the LeBrons, the Kevin Durants and the Russell Westbrooks. The PBA lasted this long because of the continued infusion of exciting players like Terrence Romeo, Jayson Castro, and Junmar Fajardo. In the same manner, the FCBL has risen as the most competitive league in Calgary due to the likes of Kelvin, Steve, Aris, Omar, Jerome and the many more exemplary players who grace the league. And just like the top level leagues, it will only remain in its perch if it continues to attract high caliber ballers.