Diesmos wins 3rd, Crosstown Auto at Edson volleyball, Red Deer Ballers, Filipino Bobsleigh, Leduc Pilipino Ballers Ass’n

Diesmos wins 3rd, Crosstown Auto at Edson volleyball, Red Deer Ballers, Filipino Bobsleigh, Leduc Pilipino Ballers Ass’n
Leduc Pilipino Ballers Association(LPBA) president Sherwin Robledo (left) thanks Mr.Ken of the sponsoring Tim Horton’s-Leduc Common during the opening of their league, Feb.24 at the Leduc Composite High School. Witnessing the ceremony is PSA president Gary Perpetua.

Congratulations to Isla Diesmos of Calgary for winning third place in the under 40-kilogram division of the Edmonton International Judo Championship, March 8, at the West Edmonton Mall.

She originally started with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has a made a mark in her category that CTV News featured her as an athlete and as an anti-bullying advocate.

Judo is an Olympic-sport and probably that’s the reason she would like to venture into it and so we wish her all the best!

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Preparations are underway for the 2019 Edson Volleyball Invitational on June 8 to 9.
Oliver dela Paz of the Alberta Filipino Volleyball Club said that AFVC Crosstown Auto Centre is entered in the men’s division while G Hawks Crosstown Auto Centre and a second G Hawks squad are competing in the women’s class.
Expected teams from Spruce Grove, Grande Prairie, Hinton, Jasper, Red Deer are also joining along with host team Edson.

We wish the organizers in Edson led by Rodel Gravides all the success and thank you for organizing a volleyball tournament for the Filipino community in Alberta.

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I’m so glad to know that the Red Deer Ballers Club (RDBC) is planning to hold a Tri-City Filipino Basketball League.
Organizer Jerby Caballero of RDBC said they were able to organize a 3-on-3 contest last February that has drawn 150 participants. The success has encouraged him to hold a regular basketball tournament.

The Inter-Club Basketball League on March 30 at the Penhold Regional Multiplex in Penhold and registration is just $300 per team, he said, which is actually just enough to cover the cost.

Teams can play in the 34-under and 35 and above age classes and after the games, there will be music, food, surprise events for the players and their families.

And in May to July, Caballero said he is organizing a Youth League for 10-12 Coed, Under-15 and Under-19.

Good luck Jerby!

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Michael Siervo, president of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce Alberta came to Edmonton with his lovely wife Vivienne, and fellow officers Vangie Caoile and husband Miguel to accompany the four Filipino Bobsleigh Team members who recently competed in the Alberta Bobsleigh Provincial Championships in Calgary where they placed third.

Rolando Isidro, Jerby Periada, Joseph Acosta and Jeffrey dela Cruz, all members of the Philippine Coast Guard, visited the Quality Care Group of Companies facility in Mill Woods and the company co-founders Kris Salumbides, Jesse Tallon and Jacob Christian chipped in their support by donating clothing gear and handed a cheque to Siervo.
Congratulations gentlemen and we hope you’ll get a spot to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing!

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ABAI’s Melchor Amit looks like doing push-ups in this bit of action as
Juan Astudillo of Wasalak looks on at the start of the 2019 Leduc Pilipino Ballers Association League, Feb.24, at the Leduc Composite High School. ABAI won, 78-73.

I have not been to a basketball league in Leduc for quite some time after manong Tony Villanueva’s retirement. So I really don’t know what’s happening there.

Suddenly at around 3:30 in the morning, I received a message that there’s an opening of a league organized by the Leduc Pilipino Ballers Association.

Aba message ni Alexis Dimaculangan, team manager of the Leduc Warriors. And because he is the nicest person in Leduc that I know (aside from my compadre Warren Guillen who plays center for Alexis’ team, hahaha), I recharged my camera batteries, cleaned the lenses, packed up everything I need, so I go.

The Leduc Pilipino Ballers Association (LPBA) is a new group headed by Sherwin Robledo. And despite being a new organization, they managed to have sponsors like FILCAN Car, Renerey Mart, Mico’s Liquor, McLaines Catering and DJReds Mobile.

Tim Horton’s at Leduc Common and Subway came in also to back Sherwin and his group.

I noticed the increase of the number of basketball organizations in Edmonton and Area.

Of course, the original is the PSA, which has been existing for more than 20 years and which has the backing of Crosstown Auto Centre.

There’s ACBL, NWEBC, PBAC, then FBAE. There could even be more I have not yet known. Just imagine six organizations running various basketball leagues. Well, to me that is good news because, if I still play basketball today, that would give me an option where to play.

It’s funny sometimes because some players, who are really basketball addicts, after one game in the league, would be in a hurry to clean up because he has to go play in another league. “Alis na ako kuya Moe, malaro pa ako sa kabila,” one player told me. Wow!

Anyway, I wish all the best for LPBA and its officers and hope that they grow big and unified in the years to come.
I really don’t mind if there will be like 10 Pinoy basketball organizations because that would make my referee friends happy. More games, more salapi.

As to the game results on opening day last February 24, ABAI defeated Wasalak, 78-72 with Rolyn Palencia hitting 29 points including a buzzer beating three-pointer. That was really fun!

Carl Gonzales was scorching hot that day with 28 points as he led Synergy Coatings in beating the Leduc Guardians, 92-60.

Another Gonzales, the elder brother actually, Ian who is suiting up for Renerey Mart/Blue Eagles/Leduc Warriors of Alexis Dimaculangan, topscored for his team with 30 points and Warren Guillen added 15 points as they downed the Leduc Goon Squad, 87-69.

Games are played every Sunday at the Leduc Composite High School. Don’t forget to bring extra shoes or sandals because dirty, wet shoes are not allowed inside the gym.

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Sports news, tips and photos are welcome. Please email it to mocolumnist@albertafilipinojournal.com.
Salamat po!

Photos by Moses Billacura | Alberta Filipino Journal

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