UFO caging eyes April 26 opening

After a three-year hiatus, the United Filipino Organization is bringing back the UFO Inter-Organization Basketball League, which is tentatively set to kick off on March 26.

UFO president Olive Yana said that so far five teams have already shown interest in joining the 7th UFO Inter-Organization Basketball League. The list includes VisMinda, Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense, Bayani Association, MDX, and Samahang Manggagawang Filipino.

Yana added the organizing committee met on Wednesday at the Filipino Workers Resource Center located at the ground floor of the Marianas Business Plaza in Susupe and discussed initial details for the opening.

Present at the meeting were UFO commissioners Paul Madriaga and Melvin Malvar, VisMinda’s Nel Atalig, SIP’s Tony Soriano, and Leo Canedo of MDX and SMF.

“There are other organizations that had already expressed their intentions to participate in the league. We are hoping to have at least eight teams this year,” Yana said. “We are inviting teams to join us to make this year’s league more fun and interesting.”

Yana said interested teams are encouraged to attend their second meeting on March 31 at 6pm at FWRC.

UFO last hosted the inter-organization caging in 2005 with SIP edging Cabalen in a best-of-three title series, 2-1. SIP won Game 1, 88-79, but failed to sweep the series when Cabalen bounced back in Game 2 with a 99-85 triumph. SIP finally wrapped up the series with a 95-86 victory, notching its fourth title in six years of joining the league.

After gaining the title, SIP players also won the most individual awards in the league.

Twelve teams joined the 2005-2006 edition of the UFO caging.

Edsel Mendoza was named Finals MVP, while Elmer Esdrelon made it to the Mythical Five, joining Mendoza, Andres “Jhun” Estolas of LIPS-Mobil, and Ronald Delos Reyes and Dalewin Cortez of Cabalen.

SIP sniper Bryan Flores was best in 3-point shooting, Jawn Joyner and Bing Marasigan of VisMinda were best in assist and free throw, respectively, Cortez was best in block shots, Chris Domingo of Cavite-Country House was best in steals, Marlon De Dios of MDX Amateur Radio-Armatech was best in rebounds, and Rowel Aranda of LIPS-Mobil was the top scorer for the season.

For more information, contact Yana at oliveyana@yahoo.com or Malvar at mjmalvar@yahoo.com.