ANGELES CITY – Basketball stars Arwin Santos, Ranidel de Ocampo and Mark Yee leads the Panings team to victory of the 1^st Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno Invitational Basketball Tournament, defeating Roel’s during the championship game held at People’s Gym in Barangay Cutcut here on March 6.

Team Manoks Fried managed to place second runner-up while team Shasyly had to console themselves as fourth placers in the competition.

Team Panings brought home the plum prize of P70,000, while Roel’s received P40,000 for its daring play. Team Manoks Fried got P15,000 and Shasyly, P5,000.

Individual awards went to Panings cagers, including Mark Yee as the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Tim Dungca got the Best Forward and Ambet Gumabon as the Best Coach. While in team Roel’s, Melvin Bangal and Billy Bansil ruled in the Best Guard and Best Center respectively.

Team Panings consists of PBA stars led by Santos of San Miguel, De Ocampo of Talk N Text, Yee of Burger King as well as local players like Lou Gatumbato, Ericson Araman, Robby David, Tim Dungca, Jay Tiera, Willy Mejia, Carlo Pangilinan, Jun Opiana, Louie Sendin, Allan Hicban, Gilbert Lacsina, Renato Bati, Mark Rosita and Coach Ambet Gumabon.

The tournament is the final activity to the triple-pronged approach of the Angeles City Sports Office (ACSO) to promote sports, said ACSO Chief Paul Puri.

The awarding ceremony was led by Mayor Nepomuceno, who is fast-tracking the construction of model sports complex that will cater national and international competitions in the future.