THERE will be no stopping them as organizers of the liveliest barangay basketball tourney in Cagayan de Oro have guaranteed that the aborted championship game in the open division will push through as re-scheduled tonight (Wednesday 7 pm) in the seaside covered court of Barangay Bonbon.
The much-awaited title showdown between the crowd-darling Stampede and upset-conscious Theowill was eventually postponed on Sunday as the uncontrolled overflowing crowd had made it impossible for the game to continue, even as the yellow shirt-wearing Stampede fans refused to leave the venue until midnight.
“Grabe dire sa Bonbon, pinaka bibo nga padula so far in Cagayan de Oro during post-pandemic. Kanselado ang game kay di mapugngan ang manan-away,” local officiating head Loloy Estroga told Gold Star Daily.
No less than Barangay Bonbon chieftain Allan ‘Bobong’ Mabalacad had called it a night as spectators already occupied the sideways of the playing courts despite the presence of three uniformed policemen.
“Dili na maka plastar pag warm up ang mga players unya lantaran pud ang masyada sa mga sugarol na dismaya si kapitan,” said one committee personnel.
To ensure crowd management, children 10 years old and younger, as well as senior citizens are strictly prohibited from getting inside the covered court, including those with no vaccine card.
The Menaling brothers and the veteran pair of Jun Daanoy and Wellan Muñoz ― that formed part of Theowill’s core ― used to dominate the inter-barangay league in the city. But the emergence of the youthful three-point shooting Stampede team had changed it all.
Anchored by rebounding ace Rudjud Daga and the backcourt troika of Joel Sollano, Darrel Kent Villarosa, and LJ Aquino, the title-favorite Stampede barely made it to Bonbon Summer League Finals after Leevan Orig hit a buzzer-beating trey against the Mala-udto boys of Macabalan during the crossover round.
“Pildehonon na kaayo sila adto kay labaw one-point ang Mala-udto under two seconds left. Gipalak pa gyod si Orig while on air after receiving an inbound pass, iya pa nalubag ug na ringless ang bola. Ila gyod karon nga season,” boldly claimed one male Stampede diehard.
