Solons, governors engage in friendly basketball match for a cause

Taclobanons and Leytenos were treated to an unprecedented and exciting basketball match the other weekend.

Young members of the House of Representatives and young governors from the provinces of the region and other parts of the country were cheered by Taclobanons and Leytenos as they held a friendly basketball match to raise funds for the benefit of the victims of the recent typhoons.

The first beneficiary of the fund that was raised in the said event, according to An Waray Partylist Congressman Bembem Noel, is the province of Mindoro under Governor Aurelio Umali who failed to attend the game as his province was greatly affected by the recent typhoon that hit the country.

Representative Noel explained that every point the Congressmen make is worth P2,000 while from the Governors, every point will be worth to an agreed amount.

Leyte Governor Petilla said that this group of Congressmen and Governors goes from one province to another in order to raise funds for fellow Governors.

Notwithstanding their hectic schedules, the Congressmen and Governors sneaked into Tacloban Airport without fanfare or "wangwang," not even using the VIP Lounge.

Team Congress was composed of An Waray Representatives Florencio "Bembem" Noel and Neil Benedict Montejo who played hosts to the visitors; Congressman Juan Edgardo Angara, Congressman Sigfried Tinga; Congressman Alfredo Garbin; Congressman Lord Allan Jay Velasco; Congressman Sherwin Tugna Congressman Yevgeny Vicente Amano; Congressman Mark Enverga; Congressman Romeo Jalosjos; Congressman Rommel Amatong; Congressman Marc Douglas Cajas and Congresswoman Aliah Dimaporo, the lone lady solon in the group.

On the other hand, Team Governors was composed of Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, Northern Samar Governor Paul Daza, Biliran Governor Gerry Boy Espina, Cavite Governor Junvic Remulla, Governor Bajam Mitra, Governor Oscar Moreno, with Tacloban City Councilor Jerry "Sambo" Yaokasin and a board member from Misamis Oriental.

After six deadlocks, Team Congress outscored Team Governors with a score of more than 70 to more than 60. The proclaimed winners of the basketball game are the typhoon victims of Mindoro. The basketball players went out to partake a sumptuous dinner at a local posh specialty resto. (PIA)