Samahan Maples Boys championship

by Maryrose Anne Villena, ACC News Correspondent

Maynard Pangan scored a three-pointer for Team Admin. A shot that added to their leading position in the first half of Samahan Maples Boys season eight championship game on Sunday, February 16 at West Kildonan Collegiate.

“It was such a comeback. From seventh to winning the championships. We are the underdogs,” Pangan proudly said, before he was declared the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Pangan, the team’s point guard, held on during the first half, which helped his teammates to rack up points. The game ended with a huge scoring gap between the teams. The score was 70-58 against Team Chief JP.

“Well-deserved for Maynard. He truly helped set up the team for success,” Chris Admin, the team’s coach, said as he looked over to the players taking photos with their medals and trophy.

It was the end of SMB’s eighth season. What started out as a simple liga of the Filipino Community around the Maples area became a league of its own with now 200 members. Their games used to be outdoors, now they gather and play indoors according to Eugene Dela Cruz, one of the SMB co-founders.

SMB is also where fellow Filipinos can get together every Sunday with their shared interest in basketball. It is a form of brotherhood and culture, he added.

During the battle for the third place, Edwin Santiago, a point guard, accumulated a total of 23 points for Team Bise Arnel. They won 70-52 against Team Mr. MVP Albert.

Team Bise Arnel was supposed to play in the championships, but they lost in the semi-finals.

“I couldn’t sleep for a week after that,” Santiago said. He still pushed through and fought to the last point to secure their team in the third. Santiago’s background of being a hip-hop dancer was an advantage for his footwork as a basketball player, he shared.

“More to come,” Arnel Gordovez, the team coach said. He is also proud despite not making it to the finals.

The next season will start on March 2nd.