SPORTS : BASKETBALL
Autumn season starts with a fresh , new sense of purpose
SOUTHWEST Sydney Filipino Australian Basketball Association ( SSFABA ) opened its third season at 9am on Saturday , April 7 , 2018 at Fairfield Youth and Community Centre .
By ALLAN ESPINOSA
The autumn tournament features eight teams .
SSFABA , a not-for-profit basketball group based in Fairfield , NSW , has embarked on a new project this year by becoming a World Vision sponsor of four children in Cebu , Philippines .
The kids will receive access to healthcare , education , values formation and community protection through the sponsorship project .
For the SSFABA committee and players , this is a significant moment , according to treasurer Jun Blanas , who spearheaded the initiative that shifted SSFABA ' s focus from being just a sports group to becoming a civic-minded organisation .
“ We have to motivate and involve our group into doing something more meaningful than just playing basketball ,” says president Romy Tan .
“ It ’ s a small but fulfilling gesture ; not bad from a group that started playing only social games more than 15 years ago .” •
Last year ' s championship match between the Blue Eagles and Green Sonics at Fairfield Community Centre .
SPORTS : GOLF ROUNDS
Three-peat for NSW
By RIC DE VERA
GOLFERS from the state of NSW won the 24th Fil-Aussie Interstate Friendship Golf Cup fourday tournament in Manila on March 13-16 , 2018 .
Fil-Oz Sydney Social Golf Club members and friends captained by Arnold Villamayor garnered 703 points under the ‘ seven to play , five to count ’ team scoring system .
NSW was awarded the winner ’ s trophy plus P10,000 cash prize .
“ I am so happy that for the third time in a
71st PAL interclub
row the most coveted monumental trophy was handed to us ,” Villamayor said .
The ACT team captained by Phonz May ( in place of Luke Revet ) finished second with 700 points .
“ This is the first time that we almost made it to the top by losing only 3 points on the last day ,” said Ariel Pattugalan , president of Filcom Sports of ACT and the host of this year ’ s series .
Individual over-all champion was Nor Hugo from Victoria , followed by Hem Chandra from ACT as runner-up .
These winners received trophies and cash prizes of P3,000 and P1,000 respectively .
The Fil-Aussie Interstate Friendship Golf Cup which is now composed of almost 100 golfers coming from all states and territories in Australia has been held in Manila annually for the past 14 years .
The venues were carefully selected four championship and privately owned golf courses .
For the first time , the field played Mt Malarayat ( Makulot and Lobo course ), Summit Point , the Riviera ( Langer course ), and Canlubang Golf and Country club – North course .
Six golfers from Wellington , New
Zealand , headed by Archie Milo also took part after their stint at the 71st PAL Interclub in Bacolod City .
They enjoyed the tournament and promised to come back next year .
This year ’ s major sponsors were the Philippine Department of Tourism in Sydney office under attache Norjamin delos Reyes , who donated 100 T-shirts and partly subsidised the cost of the trophies .
Megaworld International under the care of country manager for Australia also Liz Angeles also partly subsidised the cost of the trophies . •
FIL-OZ Sydney seniors team had a breakthrough , finishing second runner-up of the Friendship division of the 71st PAL Interclub golf tournament in Bacolod City on February 26-March 5 , 2018 .
This was the first placing in 17 years for Fil-Oz Sydney Seniors in this oldest , well organised and well attended golf tournament in the Philippines today .
“ We were lucky to have placed for the first time after so many years ,” said team captain Carlos Perez .
Team members were Gaddee Soriano , Bert Bugayong , Ruben Bugnosen , Roger delos Reyes , Ed Noche , Tony Salalila and Alex del Prado .
The Fil-Oz Sydney men ’ s regular team captained by this writer played the following week on March 6-12 , 2018 had to settle for 11th place out of 21 teams under the Friendship division .
Team members were Edwin Albances , Raul Luna , Nelson Catig , Nep Palomo , Alvin Rebulado , Leo Santiago , Romy Morales , Jimmy Morales , Ed Montero , and Simon Thomas . •
27-Man team : 2018 Fil-Aussie Interstate Friendship Golf Cup Team / State champion - NSW . Team captain Arnold Villamayor ( Centre ) raising the monumental trophy supported by Sam Akbar and Ric de Vera ( Coordinator & presenter ). They are surrounded by team members ( seated left to right ) Jeff Guerra , Leo Vasiliadis , Chris Caraballo , Dav Naidu , Ome Gaerlan , Zaldy Kapulong , Ros Sandoval , Janel Diaz , Jerry Valmeo & Arnel Zaguirre . Standing left to right are Nep Palomo , Roger delos Reyes , Obet Bolina , Ray Rodriguez , Jerome Gaerlan , Jimmy Gonzales , Nanding dela Cruz & Raul Luna . Standing behind are Amjad Khan , Manny Ventura , Dharmed Kumar , Ariel Pattugalan ( host state rep ) and Ronnie Zapanta . www . kalatas . com . au AK NewsMagazine , Vol 8 No 7 | APRIL 2018 15