THE time-tested Ballpals club holds its Christmas and 30th Anniversary basketball games today at the Macanhan covered court in Cagayan de Oro City.
Reigning champ Team Orange, backed by Suyao Trucking Services and reinforced by Erwin Raagas, Christopher Carretas, Anthony Pabillore, Allan Enteria, and Charome Marte, takes on the youth-laden Team Gray in the Saturday morning opener. While the Black team of club president Wingmark Mercado will have the solid frontcourts of Jojo Mahistrado and Janjan Arcaya in their preliminary match with Team Red.
“Since time immemorial when Ballpals originated through ball friendship at the Palaro Center, we could not stop even more loving and nurturing the club’s legacy hence our presence and participation despite some difficulties in God’s time and willpower,” said the fresh-from-Japan Ven Camon Shimomae, who’s largely instrumental in reliving the Ballpals activity in the time of the pandemic.
“Na prove sab gyod sa mga atleta nga kita maka survive sa virus basta padayon atong paugnat sa kusog ma maintain nga physically-fit ‘ta permi,” added Mercado.
The so-called “pang-masa” ball organization in the City of Gold, Ballpals has around 500 members still thriving after three decades of playing ball and lasting friendship on and off the courts.
