UBLA Basketball League 2015

CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA -- Young 'uns and young once were a jolly group of hoopsters who joined the basketball tournament hosted by the United Bicolandia Los Angeles (UBLA) that concluded with championship games and closing ceremonies last Sunday, August 30, at the Stevenson Park Gym in this city.

The basketeers were mostly backyard aficionados who had sweated themselves in the game back in the Philippines, though some were UAAP and NCAA cagers, who for love of the game continued merely as exercise buffs here in the States.  Because of their disparate ages, some of them white-haired already and some with bald pates, which added a touch of comedy to their court antics, they played seriously and at the same time good-naturedly.

Capturing the championship trophy was the Victory team that played under the flag of the Victory Autos repair and dealership in Azusa, California.  Chris Manuel of the same team ran away with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy.

Second place went to the Warriors team, while the TGIF team garnered third place, and the OG (Oh Guys) team, fourth.  The champion and runner-up were awarded team trophies, while their players got individual trophies each.  UBLA officers handed out the trophies.

The tournament was a civic/sports project of UBLA vice president Eddie Sabocor, with the full backing of president Lanie Berrei and board chair Tony Martires.

Sabocor intimated that he intends to continue with the project, because in the Greater Los Angeles area there are now thousands of Filipinos, young and middle-aged, who indulge in basketball in their backyards or in nearby municipal courts and who form teams among themselves.  He added that the tournament if managed and refereed properly will serve as a channel to foster camaraderie among the participants.

After the closing ceremonies, Eddie's wife Cherry served lunch for everybody.