PIDC Mabuhay Cup 2017 Basketball Invitational Tournament Ready to Kick Off

By Tony A. San Juan,OCT.
North York-ON-Canada
July 6, 2017



This year's summer premier basketball tournament in the Filipino Canadian community is all ready but the kick off day.  Yes sirree.....the annual Mabuhay Cup Invitational Basketball Tournament is scheduled on July 20, 21, 22, & 23, 2017 at the Hoopdome, 75 Carl Hall Road, Downsview, North York, Toronto Ontario. This is now the 14th year that the highly challenging and competitive  basketball contest is being hosted and conducted by the Philippine Independence Day Council- PIDC, headed by president Norma Carpio.

Invited to join the opening ceremonies are : City of Toronto Mayor John Tory, Federal Members of Parliament Michael Levitt of York Centre & Marco Mendicino of Eglinton- Lawrence, World Financial Group executive Agnes P. Miranda and other dignitaries including invited provincial and city government officials. Similarly, major tournament sponsors or their representatives are expected to attend.  Although the 4-day games contest will commence on Thursday, July 20th, the ceremonial opening will begin on Saturday, July 22nd at  11:00 a.m. at the popular Downsview facility.

The PIDC basketball tournament organizing committee is composed of Vilma Tahsin, Roger Tarca, Manny Villamor, Vilma Villamor and Bob San Juan. According to organizers, a beauty & talent contest will also be held at the  opening rites to choose the Miss PIDC Sports Model 2017 and her court. Tasked to coordinate the formal  program are Suzy SJ. Llanera and Rory Elefano. Other PIDC officers engaged in the event are Karen Pascual- Binaday, Randy Bucao, Verth Bugtong, Ben Corpuz, Gene Elamparo, Helen Lao, Aimee Maravilla, Roy Start, Tom Tan, Nene Ticzon, Al Tupe and Jun Villaruz .

To grace the exciting sports event are the recent winners of the PIDC 2017 beauty pageant, namely :  Elizabeth Marie Mabb - Miss Philippines PIDC  and Jainna A. Lacorte- Little Miss Philippines PIDC and their respective courts. Also, to participate is the reigning  Miss Sports Model PIDC 2016. Suzy SJ  Llanera  will co-host with another PIDC officer , the day's program  which will involve key greetings & messages, ceremonial game toss, and musical entertainment.

There are 25 participating basketball teams from Durham, Hamilton, Oakville, Ottawa, Hamilton and Toronto who are vying for the division championships, such as : All-In, Bayanihan, CKaTT 1, CKaTT 2,  Crossover, Durham, FilAct, Gladiators, Jayhawks, Lakan, Lapsley 1 , Lapsley 2 , Maharlika, Marksmen Oakville, North York PAA, Optimax, PBA Hamilton Eagles, PBA Ottawa, Toronto Elite, Toronto Queens, 24 MM, Red Warriors, UNDFTD, YDB 1 and YDB 2. Among the 25 competing teams of men, boys, ladies and girls include players from eight specified year - of -  birth  categories : Mosquito (2009), Tykes ( 2007), Peewee( 2005), Bantam ( 2003), Midget ( 2001), Junior Girls ( 2001), Ladies ( adult), and Open ( adult) divisions.

True to its mandate and goals, PIDC hopes to foster unity and to achieve,  promote and develop worthy sportsmanship, responsible discipline and respectable fair play among the players, parents, and participants through meaningful engagements in the friendly - and - competitive game of basketball ...... our homeland's favourite sporting pastime. Everyone is cordially invited ! ( Tony A. San Juan)