Philippine Independence Day Council (Ontario)

PIDC 2015 Mabuhay Cup Basketball Hoops Tourney Slam- Dunks

By Tony A. San Juan, OCT.
Ontario-Canada
August 7, 2015



Yeaah!  It was a summer slum dunk for baskitbol aficionados The 2015 Mabuhay Cup Basketball Tournament opened and closed to a smashing sporting show on July 31 and August 1 & 2, 2015. The event was engagingly conducted by the 20- year Philippine Independence Day Council- PIDC, and led by president Norma Carpio and as well, assisted by the umbrella organization's executive officers, directors and council leaders.


With over 500 players, parents, coaches, and participants, the 12th annual summer competition was held at Downsview Park's HoopDome, North York, Ontario with enviable success. The summer event was graced by  Toronto Mayor John Tory, WFG president Agnes Miranda, Liberal MP York Centre Candidate Michael Levitt , Mabuhay Cup founder Ramon Fermin, community leader Michele Serrano and  TV young actress Nicole Samantha Huff.

The tourney, participated in by 18 basketball clubs, namely: Angiels, Bayan, Bayanihan, Ckatt, Crossover, Durham, Filact, Gladiators, Jayhawks, Lapsley, Liland Ins., Maharlika, NYPAA, Ottawa, PBA Hamilton, PhilCan, Red Warriors and SMC. In four courts, the teams played competitively in 8 categories comprised of Mosquito, Tykes, Peewee, Junior Girls, Bantam, Midget, Juvenile and Open divisions.

Together with PIDC senior officers & directors, the Tournament Organizing Committee is composed of chair Vilma Tahsin and vice-chairs Manny Villamor, Vilma Villamor, Roger Tarca and Bob San Juan with the AdHoc support of Minda Neri, Susan Llanera and Aurora Ticzon- Elefano.

Highlighting the formal opening program was the presentation and selection of 6 beauty candidates for Miss PIDC Sports Model 2015, namely: Rema Balouch, Lara Capistrano, Kelly McIlroy, Alyana Ruiz, Marina Saleeb and Chiara Silo. Chosen as Miss Sports Model was Kelly McIlroy of the Gladiators team and runner-up was Marina Saleeb of Team Angiels.  K. McIlroy was crowned by Jurice Encarnacion, Miss Sports Model 2014 and Conida Marie Halley, reigning Miss Philippines PIDC. The Panel of Judges was composed of actor-singer Scott Dion Brown, singer-real estate broker Jenifer Camacho, restaurant manager Billy Diso, business executive Agnes Miranda, singer-beauty queen Raina Resplandor and registered nurse Arcilen Tejano.

The 3-day competition started with the ceremonial toss conducted by Mayor John Tory and NBA LA Lakers player Jordan Clarkson, assisted by Norma Carpio, Michael Levitt and Ramon Fermin. Games director Manny Villamor, after leading the Oath of Sportsmanship, declared the tournament open. J. Clarkson, a FilAmerican who posed for kodakan and signed autographs, came as a special guest by Clyde Pacis of Toronto Max's Restaurant.

Gamely hosted by EVP Karen Pascual- Binaday as MC and Susan SJ Llanera as pageant presenter, the 1-hour program included singing of the Canadian and Philippine national anthems by Scott Dion Brown and Alexandra Manalo, respectively, and a welcome speech by Norma Carpio. Pageant coordinators were A. Ticzon-Elefano and S. Llanera, assisted by DJ Jason Williams and photographer Dennis Javinal.  P.C. Kevin Maranan and 9 Auxiliary officers from the Police Services community task force provided venue security. 

Expressing her profound gratitude on behalf of PIDC, prexy N. Carpio acknowledged the generous contributions of the tournament major sponsors : Agnes Miranda of World Financial Group,  Bank of Montreal,  Filipino Renal Nurses Association of Ontario (FRNAO) and Dr. Victoria Santiago; prize donors Golden Care-Scarborough  & Jenifer Camacho and thanked all the volunteers, parents, players, coaches, games officials, organizing committee and the entire PIDC pamilya for a job well done. (T. San Juan).