2008 IBP-Iloilo Intercolor Sportsfest: When Colors Roar

More than the trophies, it has always been pride, glory, and a year’s worth of bragging rights that motivated the lawyers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Iloilo Chapter to take some time off the pleadings, court hearings, and client meetings to sweat it out at its annual Inter Color Sportsfest. For this year, five (5) sports events were organized namely, Basketball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Billiards, and Chess. Series of eliminations were also conducted for the respective events. The final games and the awarding of prizes however were held at the Club House of Sta. Rosa Subdivision in Mandurriao, Iloilo on November 15, 2008. This is something new for IBP-Iloilo who always had this event at the flood-stricken Iloilo Sports Complex Covered Gym.

This year’s sportsfest was more exciting because of the strong team rivalries. In Basketball, the games became more intense. The competitive nature of the players even produced some injuries and heated verbal exchanges during the game. The biggest upset of the sportsfest was also in Basketball. The Blue Team who was the favorite to win and the defending champion succumbed to the pressure made by the Green Team in a thrilling match during the second round of eliminations at YMCA Gymnasium. The loss of the Blue Team cost them a chance to play in the finals. John Paul Vargas is now probably spending a few more hours in court to perfect his free throws which he easily missed during the crucial part of that game. The Green Team eventually won the coveted champions title against the Red Team.

Photo: The 2008 IBP-Iloilo Basketball Champion (Green Team)

Just like in Basketball, team rivalry was also very apparent in Badminton. Some Basketball players also joined their badminton team in order to increase their group’s chances of winning. Aemos Jonathan Galuego of the Green Team and this year’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for Basketball also took the Men’s Singles Title for the second time in a row as well as the Mixed Doubles Title with his partner Carol Salvatierra. This earned him another MVP title for Badminton. This came as no surprise since Galuego was formerly a varsity player in badminton for the University of the Philippines in his college days and also a member of the prestigious Valiant Badminton Club in Iloilo City. Another former varsity player RLeone Gerochi and Samson Go of the Red Team took home the Men's Doubles Title. On the women's side, Ma. Elena Gerochi also from the Red Team grabbed the singles title for the first time from Suzette Alquisada of the White Team who has dominated the game for several years. In Doubles, it was still Gracious Espinosa and Janette Mae Dillomes of the Blue Team who prevailed. It was already a third title for the duo.

Photo: All four(4) teams for Badminton before the games

In Table Tennis, Rexinor John Demogena won the Men’s Singles Title while Arnold Lebrilla and Martin Mamon in the Men’s Doubles. The women of badminton, Pamela Helen Bitera and Carol Salvatierra invaded the table tennis Women's Doubles by winning the title for this year. Ana Pueda Galvez took home the Singles title.

Photo: Table Tennis Women's Doubles Champion

In Billiards and Chess, Hermie Jun Toledo and Arnold Molina outplayed everyone on their respective games. Refer to the following for the complete list of winners by event.

Photo: The finalists Hermie Jun Toledo and Patrick Lloyd Gellada


LIST OF WINNERS BY EVENT:
BASKETBALL
Champion: GREEN TEAM
1st Runner Up: RED TEAM
2nd Runner Up: BLUE TEAM

MYTHICAL FIVE
Aemos Jonathan Galuego
Sotero Cabarles Jr.
Patrick Lloyd Gellada
Clarence Zerrudo
Rolido de la Cruz

ALL DEFENSIVE TEAM
Noel Palomado
Jessie Sullano
Nelson Bartolome
Joel Espana

SPECIAL AWARDS
Most Valuable Player: Aemos Jonathan Galuego
Most Improved Player: White Gallego
Rookie of the Year: Christopher Dequilla
Coach of the Year: Amalik Espinosa

BADMINTON
MEN'S SINGLES
Champion: Aemos Jonathan Galuego (Green Team)
1st Runner Up: Carmelo Nochete (Blue Team)
2nd Runner Up: Hilarion Firmeza, Jr. (White Team)

MEN'S DOUBLES
Champion: RLeone Gerochi and Samson Go (Red Team)
1st Runner Up: Wesley Barayuga and Carmelo Nochete (Blue Team)
2nd Runner Up: Aemos Jonathan Galuego and Fhymore Gascon (Green Team)

WOMEN'S SINGLES
Champion: Ma. Elena Gerochi (Red Team)
1st Runner Up: Suzette Alquisada (White Team)
2nd Runner Up: Janette Mae Dillomes (Blue Team)

WOMEN'S DOUBLES
Champion: Gracious Espinosa and Janette Mae Dillomes (Blue Team)
1st Runner Up: Carol Salvatierra and Pamela Helen Bitera (Green Team)
2nd Runner Up: Ma.Elena Gerochi and Myra Duremdes (Red Team)

MIXED DOUBLES
Champion: Aemos Jonathan Galuego and Carol Salvatierra (Green Team)
1st Runner Up: Samson Go and Ma. Elena Gerochi (Red Team)
2nd Runner Up: Hilarion Firmeza and Suzette Alquisada (White Team)

SPECIAL AWARDS
Most Valuable Player: Aemos Jonathan Galluego
Most Improved Player: Myra Duremdes
Rookie of the Year: Jovy June Tin

BILLIARDS
Champion: Hermie Jun Toledo
1st Runner Up: Patrick Lloyd Gellada
2nd Runner Up: Joe John Alipao

CHESS
Champion: Arnold Molina
1st Runner Up: Dennis Ausan
2nd Runner Up: Benjie Yotoko
3rd Runner Up: Edwardo Areno

TABLE TENNIS
MEN'S SINGLES
Champion: Rexinor John Demogena
1st Runner Up: Ryan Castro
2nd Runner Up: Raul Retiro
3rd Runner Up: Arnold Lebrilla

MEN'S DOUBLES
Champion: Arnold Lebrilla and Martin Mamon
1st Runner Up: Raul Retiro and Roel Patricio
2nd Runner Up: Jeeli Espinosa and Rexinor John Demogena
3rd Runner Up: Ryan Castro and Arturo Cangrejo

WOMEN'S SINGLES
Champion: Ana Pueda Galvez
1st Runner Up: Amelita del Rosario-Benedicto
2nd Runner Up: Elena Opinion
3rd Runner Up: Elsie Jane Victoria Causing

WOMEN'S DOUBLES
Champion: Carol Salvatierra and Pamela Helen Bitera
1st Runner Up: Ma. Elena Gerochi and Janette Mae Dillomes
By Gracious J. Espinosa