CRAIG HODGES: THE FIRST NBA LEGEND TO HOLD BASKETBALL TRAINING IN SORSOGON!

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It was a dream come true for every basketeer to have a face-to-face training with the king of the ring, Craig Hodges in his Hodge on Hoops Philippine Tour 2012 entitled:  The Power of Effective Shooting, a basketball clinic held in Sorsogon City last April 20 to  21 this year. 

It was participated in by more or less 300 kids who passionately enjoyed  the shooting clinic conducted by an NBA legend - Craig Hodges.

“I brought two championship to Chicago but  was never welcomed  this way.” Said by Craig Hodges as he was overwhelmed by a very warm welcome given to him by the Sorsoganons.

Immediately after his first step in Sorsogon, he was paraded along the city proper convoyed by 21 cars with enjoying BAS kids and parents who are rejoicing as it is their  first time to be visited by an NBA basketball icon.

He then proceeded to Villa Isabel for a press conference by 35 mediamen coming from 11 radio and  tv stations  from the province of Sorsogon. Representatives from the three print media were there also enjoying every answer Hodges is throwing  to them.

Craig Hodges, a two-time champion (Chicago Bulls) in NBA, 3-time NBA 3-point Shoot-out and a former shooting coach of LA Lakes  stressed the importance of grass-root development so that Filipinos can develop better basketball program for the youth. He then pointed out that basketball is not all about heights but the most important thing is improving shooting skills.

The 10-man Team Hodge, with Coach Dayong Mendoza and his coaching staff has imparted  scientific techniques and valuable inspiration to  Sorsogon basketball in this two day sports clinic brought by the LEaD (Lee, Escudero and Dioneda) Integrated Sports Program, Basketball Academy of Sorsogon and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas – Sorsogon Chapter. 

The provincial gym was filled with entertainment especially at night when the black American clinicians displayed impressive pwer lay-ups and dunks. Craig  Hodges showed his accurate shooting powers.
In the second day, Craig Hodges went to Basia Auditorium, Bacon, Sorsogon City. There, the participants were almost doubled as they intensely wanted a first hand training from an NBA legend.
Kevin Gray, Hodge promoter extended his huge thanks to Sorsogon City for giving them such appreciation by the Sorsoganon.
“If not to  Mayor Leovic Dioneda, Cong. Sonny Escudero and Gov. Raul Lee with Mr. Michael Sulit, we were not able to bring and mark a history in basketball here in our province. From this day, any  participant  had a very significant stories to tell to his  children and grand children that there was a time Sorsogon was visited by an NBA Icon – Craig Hodges... and I was trained by him.” Said by Mr. Edgar Balasta, the project director of LEaD. 

Craig Hodge event is the first project of the LEaD Integrated Sports Program aimed at providing Sorsogon a sustainable sports development program to help uplift sports performance of the athletes of the province.
Craig Hodges, inculcated the basics of shooting as he wanted every young child to memorize it, “Foundation, form, follow through.” These are the three words the three-pint shoot king left to the Sorsoganons. 

Later, he proceeded to Naga City for a similar clinic and went to Metro Manila for his University tour. A week after, a news in Manila Bulletin came out that he is under a negotiation for coaching consultancy in San Miguel Beer team in Philippine Basketball Association.

TEN OUTSTANDING STUDENTS OF BICOL 2011

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 THE TEN OUTSTANDING STUDENTS 
OF BICOL 2011

















The Ten Outstanding Students of Bicol 2011:
1.     John Elmar B. Templonuevo of Catanduanes State Colleges, Catanduanes
2.     Paul Andrew C. Orpiada of Ateneo De Naga University, Naga City
3.     Arlene T. Delos Reyes of University of Nueva Caceres, Naga City
4.     Dion Lorenz L. Romano of Universidad de Sta. Isabel, Naga City
5.     Marpril A. Agor of Ateneo De Naga University, Naga City
6.     Kathrine G. Lapayag of Computer Communication Dev't Institute, Sorsogon
7.     Ramish B. Baldoza of Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Sipocot
8.     John Kenneth M.Trinidad of Divine Word College of Legazpi, Legazpi City
9.     Melvin John Frivaldo of Computer Communication Dev't Institute, Sorsogon
10.                       Marian Chrissel Deborrah A. Adriano of Ateneo De Naga University

The rise of Sorsogon sports

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How are we growing in sports?

I am so glad to see that sports of the higher education institutions in Sorsogon, particularly in private schools are improving fast. I could remember those years, the first time I step-in here sports were not our priority.
The collegiate tournament, particularly in basketball was frozen in the past years as the organizers lost to most school heads their credibility of handling an encouraging sports program.
Since then we joined PRISAA but went home empty handed with medals.
I remember in 2007, when Fr. Escanilla suggested us of not joining the Regional PRISAA because Sorsogon sports were not yet competitive. I told him that if we will not join this that would signal death to our chapter. Here, I rallied to strengthen our complementation instead of competition among the members.
That resulted to my election as the President of the chapter in the same year, after I successfully hold the Regional Friendship Game here in Sorsogon. Here we exhibited our goal for a quality basketball program for the province.
Consequently, we had created the Basketball Inter-collegiate Championship of Sorsogon, popularly known as BICCS in August 2007 with eight higher education institutions as members. They were the Our Lady of Penafrancia Seminary, The Lewis College, Speed Computer College, Sorsogon State College, St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon, Bicol Merchant Marine College, Sorsogon College of Criminology, Aemilianum College and Computer Communication Development Institute.
The BICCS became a potent avenue for developing the athletic potentials of young Sorsoganons. With our persistence, member-schools had improved their basketball programs. Some HEI’s were even encouraged to provide scholarships to their athletes.
From thereon, our sports have improved tremendously. In 2007, two teams (CCDI and ACI) were able to compete for the PCCL Regional Elimination in Naga City.
It was in this year, when Sorsogon started to show up its potentials in basketball. The combined forces of eight HEI’s in Sorsogon made us a team-to-beat in basketball. We were ranked a runner-up in PRISAA Regional in 2008 and 2009 in this sports events usually dominated by Naga City with University of Nueva Caceres lording the collegiate basketball for almost a decade.
In 2008 and 2009, CCDI Wildcats representing Sorsogon was ranked 2nd runner-up and 1st runner up in South Luzon by Philippine Collegiate Champions League.
Sorsogon basketball represented by CCDI Wildcats with few selections from other schools swamped the combined forces of Naga super universities (Ateneo, UNC, USI and NCF) by 17 points in the final game in PRISAA Regional Games in Daet, Camarines Norte last February of this year. That laurelled Sorsogon to represent not only the province but the entire Bicol region in the first-ever CHED National Palaro in Metro Manila last February 2010. Here, CCDI challenged the NCAA Champion 2009 -the San Sebastian College Stags.
In 2010, CCDI soared and champed the South-Luzon Bicol Championship besting other champions, the Ateneo de naga U, Enverga U, Bicol College and Amando Cope College. Sorsogon Wildcats represented the province in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (Zonal) against two champions Lyceum University and Arellano University, last November 9 – 14, 2010.
PCCL Director, Joe Lipa was impressed with the fast development of basketball in Sorsogon. “Sorsogon is no longer a weeping man in sports. Sorsogon start gaining the respect of the country as it shows tremendous improvement,” he said.
Other than the tournament development, we did also helped worked to improve our officiating and coaching capabilities by conducting training and workshops. We worked out to have our referees in Sorsogon registered to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas or SBP, the only FIBA accredited basketball association in the country. We had invited the renowned international referee, Richard Villanueva provide enhancement to our referees. We had invited a sports leader - Bernie Atienza and veteran coach Bong Go accredit our local coaches from Sorsogon and Albay for SBP’s National Coaches and Licensing Program. We sent our referees like, Charles Jarabejo to international officiating training with FIBA Asia’s Alan Richardson and Lubo Kotleba.
We also launched the Sorsogon Juniors last August this year which was participated by six major schools offering secondary courses. They were the St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon, The Lewis College, Annuncation College of Bacon Sorsogon Units, Inc. Our Lady of Penafrancia Seminary, First Baptist Chiristain Academy and its first league champion, Aemilianum College, Inc.
Generally, the sports in the private higher education institutions improved a lot. Last PRISAA Regional 2009, Sorsogon chapter ranked First-Runner up in the over-all medal standing, with the Cam. Sur/Naga City at the top.
Zaira Hapin, an athlete of Solis Institute of Technology, Bulan, Sorsogon was medaled bronze in athletics in CHED National Games 2010, the first awardee in athletics from PRISAA Sorsogon.
Our dance sports program with Johan Gutay as its coach had excelled for the past two years and had brought the pride of being the Bicol representative to the National Dance Sports Competition for PRISAA in 2009 and 2010. It has now developed Studio 26, a clinic for young dancers.
Amidst these achievements and sports development brought to us by our HEIs complementation, there are sports leaders and politicians who are dragging us down. Well, I think it is but normal to any growing association.
CCDI representing the province of Sorsogon swept its opponents in the PCCL South Luzon-Bicol Championship last October. A certain Enverga coach named Benedict Vegamora, accused that his team Enverga University was cheated in their game against CCDI-Sorsogon. He uploaded in his Facebook account the contested call of certain Mr. Jomar Gorom, elite referee of Naga City. Such edited video was tagged to his friends. Among them were coaches like Coach Aldin Ayo, Sorsogon City Councilor and Noli Ayo of Ateneo de Naga University. The video instantly spread out to their circle of friends.
Curiously I watched the said controversial video which was edited from the original copy I gave to Mr. Rick Berry of Enverga University who asked me one before they left home.
Although the issue is already moot and academic, I asked SBP officiating group in Sorsogon to investigate on such issue since in a social networking site, SBP Sorsogon is accused of cheating in the game.
Accordingly, they reported me the following findings: (1) the referee who called the foul is not a member of Sorsogon SBP referee, but from the Naga City Elite Referee. (2) The foul was committed as witnessed by SBP Technical committee members who all witnessed the commission of foul. The video shot in far distance is insubstantial to say it was a foul or not since the objects were blurred. Only those who saw the action live can say it was a foul or not. (3.) Such call was deliberated, the video was reviewed during the game in the presence of PCCL National Director, Joe Lipa and his Regional Head, Mr. Edper Brojan, with the Regional Technical committee and has found it a FOUL. (3) Facebook is not a proper venue of complain. They should have brought this issue to the proper forum – in PCCL and SBP. Such Enverga coach should have formally filed a complaint to the technical committee immediately upon occurrence of the offense. The posting of this controversial video in their facebook account is made on malice, deceit and irresponsibility; thus aimed at destroying the image of Sorsogon basketball.
Right after the game I told Rick Berry, head coach of Enverga U to make a formal complain to PCCL because CCDI is willing for a rematch and even give way to them for the zonal tilt once there was an irregularity.
We in Sorsogon, is so sad of this issue because there are sports leaders here, who instead of helping us clarify the issue had exaggerated it and seems they will be happy that Sorsogon team is being turned down. One time, I was approached by a certain BARECOM referee and told me that Hon. Mike Go was upset to CCDI because of that event. I did not believe in him because, I have not yet talked to the good city councilor.
During PCCL, I was happy with the people who supported our hosting. CCDI team struggled financially but made our representation for Sorsogon successful… and Sorsogon won!
I pity to our young innocent athletes, who strived hard to give honor to Sorsogon sports but are being disgraced by selfish individuals. Sad to say, during their PCCL league our athletes used to borrow shoes from their friends, and solicit a penny for the gym rentals during practices. Yet, with perseverance and dedication they were able to show to the whole country that Sorsoganon can offer a competitive basketball in a high league.

Now, the power house league is coming - the Sosogon Open Basketball Tournament spearheaded by our very sports minded Mayor Leovic Dioneda. I expect everyone to share a common spirit, which is, keeping alive the pride of Sorsogon in sports.
I believe, unless leaders set aside their personal interests, our sports in Sorsogon will always be vulnerable.
In my observation this is the reason why we slowly grow in sports because of the poisonous practice, CRAB MENTALITY.
For me, what we experienced here are just challenges, in which everyone should work on. I thank my fellow members in BICCS, Sorsogon Juniors and PRISAA for keeping our group intact and stable.
Along this way, we expect that more challenges will obstruct us but we never lose our spirit of delivering better sports program as we continue uplift our pride. This is the kind of contribution we in the private higher education institutions want to share to our local government and to our dear people of the province.
We challenge our friends and other sports leaders also, DELIVER BETTER SPORTS FOR SORSOGON!

CCDI: The Champion of South Luzon Bicol

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The Computer Communication Development Institute Wildcats marked 4-0 straight win in the recently concluded South Luzon – Bicol Championship of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League held last October 4 – 6, 2010 in Sorsogon Provincial Gymnasium. Such performance landed CCDI into the championship title of the South Luzon elimination.


CCDI did an impressiveperformance after sweeping the giant universities in South Luzon - Bicol area in the basketball league held last October 4 - 6, 2010 in Sorsogon Provincial Gymnasium, Sorsogon City. It has defeated the Manuel S. Enverga University of Lucena City, Ateneo de Naga Unveristy, Bicol College and Amando Cope College of TAbaco City

The CCDI Wildcats upset the Bicol College Maroons with a score of 90 - 63 in the final game. The Maroons were rattled of the run and gun offense strategy of the Wildcats.

Michael Adamos lead the Wildcats’ score making 16 points. Julius Jayona also did an impressive performance of 13 points. Jay Diesta and Shelby Gobris helped the scoring with 12 and 13 points, respectively in this regional tilt sponsored by the Rotary Club of Metro Sorsogon and Rotary Club of Pasig Sunrise.

“I am happy to say that Sorsogon college basketball has improved a lot. This team, though composed of a small lineup is characterized of great courage and huge heart for basketball, that is why they win,” said by Coach Joe Lipa, PCCL Executive Director.

Coach Ron Ryan Jalmanzar took the advantage of his power point guard, Shelby Gobris who orchestrated the game dominating the Maroons point guards in this league brought by Smart Communications and PLDT.

The Maroons were unsuccessful of making use of their height advantage over the Wildcats who did sustain stamina until the last quarter of the game. The lead continue to escalate as the key players of the Bicol College dropped to the ground one by one, when Coach Ron use his trapping defense and running attack.

The Manuel S. Enverga University Foundations, Inc. landed runner-up for making 3-1 game standing. Enverga U failed to bring home the coveted championship trophy because of its defeat against CCDI Wildcats in the opening game.

The Ateneo de Naga University Knights submerged to fourth rank with 1-3 standing. The Knights were heavily savaged by CCDI with a score of 61-79. Ateneo was followed by Amando Cope College with 0-4 record.

Shelby Gobris was declared the Most Valuable Player while Julius Jayona (CCDI), Avila (Ateneo) Pelaez (Enverga) and Salinas (Bicol College) were rowed in the Mythical Five

“PCCL is my most awaited league. I know how strong our opponents are. That is why, I keep my stamina strong. Thanks God, our sacrifices worked,” Gobris exclaimed.

“PCCL has helped developed our team become more competitive. My team knew where they will be going. They always look up to challenging UAAP and NCAA teams,” quoted by Coach Ron Jalmanzar.

The CCDI Wildcats will represent the South-Luzon in the Zonal Elimination which might be scheduled on November 8 – 12 to be held in ULTRA, Pasig City. Expected to compete with CCDI are National University and the University of Manila.

It has been noted that CCDI was the Bicol’s official delegation for basketball men of the CHED National Games held in Manila last February, 2010

We started as One..We win as One...

Jayson Relata: An Exceptional Athlete

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I write this article to commend our guest athlete for the CHED National Games 2010 whom I think is one of the best players we had, on and off the court.


He is 22 years old, an Entrepreneurship sophomore of USI who is considered as an ace player of the Vincentian basketball team. He played guard position who seldom missed three points attempts and is playing a basic basketball. No fancy moves, no force shoots! Once assigned as the point guard, he established leadership inside the court and delivers the ball well!


Jayson, and the rest of the Bicol Region athletes

as they enter the ULTRA Gym in Pasig City


During practice, he is very dedicated. Could you imagine he travel all the way from Libmanan to Sorsogon (that’s more or less 80 kilometers away or 5 hours ride) just to hit early schedule of practice. That’s how he loved basketball.


He was once injured.. but recovered to help his team mates
do the mission....crush the opponent!

Off the court, he is silent. You heard him seldom talk. He just give you a smile on any discussion he cannot relate, he! He! He! He easily gets along with his Sorsogon team mates.


When Bicol Region lost the game,
Jayson was severely affected...sad!


Jayson played point and off guard of the team!
One of his most important game.. it's against San Sebastian College,
NCAA Champion. He gave Aquino a four - three points shots!

As his new manager, he treated me like he met long, long time ago. He is very kind and gentle. And, trustworthy! USI is so lucky having him as their ace player.

A simple pose, waiting for nothing, he! he!


I thought he was that boring, ball addict but he proved me wrong. He is .. SUPER KULIT PALA! Ha! Ha! Ha!

It was curfew hour at PHILSCA. Since the athletes are not allowed to go out

Jayson initiated a game to entertain his team mates!


He is the reason of Bea and John Loyd's breakup!
..and a frustrated model here! he! he! he!

It's nice to see him as the only Saint in the middle of deadly cats!

A cheesy moment with his co-point guard, Shelby Gobris

Seemingly, I could associate his personality to Kari Magalona, our CCDI Panthers ace now the team head coach whom till now, I consider my son and brother.


The legend, Kari Magalona, now the Coach of CCDI Panthers.

CHED Games was over but the friendship shared by this person to me can never be spoiled! I am so proud having met this guy!

A nice photo as we relax in MOA

after tiring day of the game.


Keep up the good job, dude! I know other than being good in basketball, you are a good husband and dad of two, .... a person with big dreams and big heart.

Jayson posing for a shoot in MOA lobby!


More to come, Jayson! You are among the few elite college basketeers of Bicol. I will always be proud of you!