WAAY crowns Cinderalla champions in two divisions
After 13 weeks of Sunday basketball, the Winnipeg Athletic Association for Youth (WAAY) hosted the championship finals at Tec Voc High School to complete another successful season of Filipino youth basketball.
The screaming and excited fans definitely showed up for this game. So did the players! The opening game of the finals saw 3rd ranked Team White coached by Debbie Purganan upset 1st ranked Team Black, coached by Jomar Guaring by a single point. Final score was 35-34 for Team White.
The Bantam/Midget finals was the meeting of two unlikely Cinderella teams. Ranked 3rd coming into the finals, Team Black coached by Jai Mendez played 4th ranked Team Royal Blue coached by Jun Urbano. Royal Blue battled back in the second half to come within a point of Team Black in the final minute of play. In the end, Team Royal Blue completed the upset with a 50-49 victory.
In the third finals game of the day in the Tykes Division saw Team Red, coached by VJ Vargas run away with the championship defeating Team White, coached by Gilbert Ramilo.
Closing out the fourth and final game of the day, the kids in the Pee Wee Division took to the court. Team White, coached by Sean Brydigyr completed another Cinderella upset (ranked 4th) by beating team Light Grey by 11 points.
The WAAY Committee is made up of the following individuals: Joel de las Alas, Jemy de las Alas, Gerald Cansino, Linda Cansino, Arsenio dela Cruz, Marie dela Cruz, Ron Guinto, Edwin Garing, Joey Buenaventura and Rhexy Medrano. Congratulations to all players, parents, sponsors and volunteers for another successful WAAY season. Check the FilipinoJournal.com website and Facebook page for more photos!
Championship final scores and tournament rankings
Jr Tykes Division (5-8yrs old)
Finals: Team White 35 – Team Black 34
1st Place – Team White (coach Debbie Purganan); 2nd Place – Team Black (coach Jomar Guaring); 3rd Place – Team Red (coach Joey Buenaventura); MVP – Randayle Caparas.
Tykes Division (9-10yrs old)
Finals: Team Red 34 – Team White 23
1st Place – Team Red (coach VJ Vargas); 2nd Place – Team White (coach Gilbert Ramilo); 3rd Place – Team Blue (coach Neil Santos/Josh delos Reyes); MVP- Jerico Yago
PeeWee Division (11-12yrs old)
Finals: Team White 37 – Team Grey 26
1st Place – Team White (coach Sean Brygidyr/Mel Reyes); 2nd Place – Team Grey (coach Rhexzy Medrano); 3rd Place – Team Black (coach Mark Gatchalian); MVP- Gene Acurin
Bantam/Midget (13-15yrs old)
Finals: Team Blue 50 – Team Black 49
Photos by Miguel Moldez | Filipino Journal
