2015

Sports Feature
GILAS PILIPINAS: A Tale of Toils and Triumphs with a Heart
Laban Pilipinas, Puso!
They are a few of the greatest men who triumphed basketball with their awesome plays for the world
to notice. They are a team that bravely played with heart or in our own Filipino language, puso. They are
the Philippines very own national basketball team - Gilas Pilipinas, who shoot for supremacy, rebound for
victory, steal for the title and assist for the Philippines.
Gilas Pilipinas had set foot in the quadrennial FIBA Basketball World Cup Games as first runner-up
with its 15 fully-boosted basketball sports icons namely Andrey Blatch, Jason William, Gabe Norwood, Marc
Pingris, Calvin Abueva, Asi Taulava, Terrence Romeo, Don Hontiveros, JC Intal, Gary David, Ranidel De
Ocampo, Sonny Thos, Matthew Allen Ganuelas, Thos and Joachim. With their strength and fighting spirit,
they kept on rolling the ball and was able to snatch the glorious silver. Their achievement brought honor to
the Philippines because they gave the nation the fame it has always been aiming for.
However, their way through the hard court is not without thorns and trials. They have faced hardships
in undergoing trainings. One factor why this is so is that Filipinos have always been undersized in the
international competition in the world stage. But despite all these, they never quitted and proved that Filipinos
could excel in the world stage.
With their victory, Gilas Pilipinas shall continue to reign and give honor and fame to the Philippines no
matter how high those levels of competencies are. Gilas Pilipinas got a huge impact in the hearts of the
Filipino people for putting the Philippine map in the world of basketball. Gilas Pilipinas will keep on dominating
with their legendary shooting range. And with this, all Filipinos will continue to cheer, Laban Pilipinas, Puso!

Raiza Mae: Kicking Towards Victory

A victor never quits.
This inspires the 14-year-old Raiza Mae Evangelista to make her foes in taekwondo tremble in fear
as she stands in the battlefield. Raiza, as she is fondly called, is a girl who possesses the indomitable spirit
of sportsmanship and determination. Her prowess and power lead her opponents beg for her mercy as she
starts to unleash her power kicks, her tickets to victory.
At first, Raiza was engaged in volleyball, but at the age of 13, she realized that she was called to be
in the world of taekwondo. She started her vigorous training with her coach with much effort and faith,
believing that someday, all her efforts would pay off. Despite the countless pains that she felt during her
training, she never gave space for giving up. She believed that the product of her hardship would be sweet.
She had faith, coupled with her discipline.
And these paid off. Because of her powerful kicks, she won over her opponents during the 2014 Ilocos
Norte Athletic Association (INAA) Meet and was one of the representatives of Ilocos Norte to the 2014 Region
1 Athletic Association (R1AA) Meet.
Success could have made her head big, but she did not stop training. She continued to develop herself
more. This time, she competed with herself, kicking away the evils of self-glorification and self-pride. She did
not let success ruin her; instead, she trained harder, and she indeed became better. This year, with hard
work, she is again chosen to be one of the participants to compete in the 2015 R1AA Meet.
When asked about the formula of her triumph, she simply says, You need to have commitment, will,
determination and of course, faith to the Nice Guy above. And no matter what you have achieved, always
keep your feet on the ground. You are not competing with other people anyway; you are competing with
yourself.
Aside from being an icon in the court, she is also a star on the stage. She was actually crowned as
Ms. Intrams 2015 of Solsona National High School (Talugtog Campus) because of the beauty that she
possesses outside and inside.
Indeed, Raiza is one of the youth today who withstands and shines. She never lets problems hinder
her to succeed. She pursues her dream a dream to be a famous taekwondo player. She will not quit until
she reaches that goal. She continuously kicks problems and hindrances away, and that kick shall lead her
to yet another victory.nother outstanding sports icon is volleying in history. He is a thirteen-year-old stunner
with the impeccable spirit of sportsmanship and a genuine blood of determination who is trying to escalate
his God-given potentials. He is a young man who captures the trophy with his net of vigor and his ball of faith
a reason that he is everyones superstar whenever he is set to crack the court.
He sets serves with compassion. Since grade 5, he is already one of the mighty throngs of Ilocos
Nortes volleyball players. Because of his extensive and powerful strategies and tactics, during his final year
in his elementary, he was the sole representative of the Division of Ilocos Norte in the Palarong Pambansa
held in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. And now, Joshua Tyler Maneja, with his deadly spikes, charming smile and gutsy
personality, will be roaring his indomitable presence this incoming Region I Athletic Association (R1AA) Meet
2014.
Every time we are going to compete in volleyball, I always tell myself that I can do it and never to
give up, Maneja said. He heartily says that this is his lucky charm every time he releases his irretrievable
wallops and floats. His strikes are unsinkable which make him a good and undisputed volleyball player of his
generation.
Persevere and strive hard, train with passion and discipline. If you can hit this then its not impossible
to be like me. But dont forget to balance your time in your studies and diversions, a friendly advice he
unselfishly shares to everyone.
It is a surprise to see a young man who pursues his dreams to be a popular volleyball player,
translating his imaginations into reality. He is a man who blocks the crisis that surrounds him. With his wit
and stamina, he will surely shine as he spikes to capture his dreams!

Sports News
International Sports
Young Ilocana chess ace lauded for winning gold in Singapore
SINGAPORE Nine-year-old Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, proved her
worth by bagging gold and two silver medals in the 16th ASEAN Age Group Chess championship
held in Singapore after defeating all SEA players in the girls category, June.
Sebastian won the standard category with her smooth, mind-boggling moves and was runner-up in
the team category. She outplayed all her opponents from Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, China and New
Zealand, which made her pinch the Little World Candidate Master (WCM), making her the youngest Filipino
to receive the honor.
The Philippines ended second overall behind Vietnam which had 18 golds, 19 silvers and 16 bronzes.
India was third with 6-2-1, followed by Singapore 4-2-5, Mongolia 3-1-9, Indonesia 2-2-3, Malaysia 1-2-1,
Myanmar 1-1-0, China 1-1-0, Nepal 0-1-1, New Zealand 0-1-0, and Thailand 0-0-1.
She is a testimony of the greatness of the Ilocano youth, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee said referring to
Sebastian who is now being considered in the Philippine team that will compete in the upcoming World Youth
Championships in Halkidiki, Greece.

INAA Meet 2015

East Taekwondo Team retains crown
Dynasty continues!
Fast and ferocious East Unit Taekwondo Women team once again dominated in the crucial war
of sports icons and pocketed the final ticket to a row of victories in the championship battles during
the thrilling Ilocos Norte Athletic Association (INAA) Meet held at the Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos
Memorial Stadium, October 28-30.
Sweltering her high-octane attacks and fault-proof strategies, fearless Jessa Aguinaldo dominated in
the flyweight division.
On the other hand, frustrating assaults and full-force kicks unloaded by the well-oiled Allaica Ilar made
her the champion in the lightweight category.
Unstoppable bullet kicks and tricky footworks handed the 2014 INAA champion Raiza Mae
Evangelista the championship title in the welterweight category.
 Powerful Roundhouse kicks became the ally of the power-packed Kycee Marie Gabriel as she ruled
in the light middleweight category.
Meanwhile, the invincible Christian James Brigania of the Taekwondo men team successfully won
over rival in the lightweight category.
We are very happy that we retained the crown. The victory would not have been possible if not for
the discipline of the players, said Coach Mrs. Kathleen Estacio.
The said players are now preparing for the forthcoming R1AA Meet 2016 to be held in San Carlos
City, Pangasinan sometime in January.

EUSSAA Meet 2015

Solsona dominates lawn tennis
MARCOS Launching most of their blinding eye smashes and tricky moves equipped with great
determination, overpowering Solsona Lawn Tennis Men ravaged their tough rivals after dishing out
their outstanding strategies and tricky footworks that hocked-out the shimmering crown during the
disastrous match in the East Unit Secondary Schools Athletic Association (EUSSAA) at the jam-
packed Marcos quadrangle, Oct. 1-2.
Scorching Solsona rapidly exploded like a raging bull and dominated the tennis court with the top -
rate and nerve-wrecking performance of Jan Lander Desiderio and Carl Angelo Almazan who unleashed
numerous devastating spikes and rib-breaking spins that devoured their rivals from Banna and Dingras,
respectively, during the breathtaking championship round, Single A and B.
Starting from the first to the last set of the final championship round in Doubles, Eric James Habac
and Hanz Louel Florendo exploded like a raging bull and punished their hapless foes by unleashing their
deadly spikes and implacable chop spins leaving their wimpy rivals from Banna murdered.
Fast and furious Solsona Team composed of Alexis Jemina Asuncion and Johanna Elaine Roberto
released their glass-breaking spikes and astounding strikes that caused their rivals from Banna lose their
hope and gave Solsona the shimmering championship title.
We did not expect this. We just trained hard and played harder during the games, Desiderio said.

SOSSAA 2015 Diamond Clash

Movers stun Warriors, 5-1
SOLSONA - The heavy batter Clifford Valentin of Bagbag Movers came through with his finest
offensive performance, powering the Movers to a crucial victory, 5-1, over their reeling rival,
Maananteng Warriors, in the action-packed baseball championship game during the Solsona
Secondary Schools Athletic Association (SOSSAA) Meet held at Solsona Public Plaza, September
22.
Movers, right from the opening, sizzled with the explosion that came up from the palm of Valentin
which helped them rule the first inning, 1-0.
The second inning began and Movers again maneuvered from coast to coast that carried the team
into a dazzling 2-0.
The crowd went wild when Fijette Valenciano, the hot striker of Maananteng Warriors, dished the
bat from the explosion point that gave the Warriors their first run, 2-1.
The red-hot Warriors sparked and set their deleterious weapons to block the Movers but their
scheme did not materialize as the Movers continued their invasion, bannering the team into 5-1, victory.
The trainings we had were rigid. But thanks God, the diamond is again ours! coach Mr. Joemark
Colobong commented.
In the Penetrating Volleyball War
East Spikers astound Central Netters, 3-0
LAOAG CITY Throwing a sudden burst of attacks, the top dog John Paul Espiritu introduced himself
as he unleashed his compact assault rifles and bullied the wobbly Central Netters with his optimum
kills putting East Spikers into a stunning victory, 3-0, in the action-packed Volleyball Men
Championship Game during the Ilocos Norte Athletic Association Meet launched at the Pres.
Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium (FEMMS), Oct. 30.
From the opening tip, heavy-handed Espiritu immediately gained leverage by exploding five bullet kills
followed by three capitalized wallops accompanied by John Tyler Manejas five armored placings putting
their rivals out of position. The shaky Netters tried to deny the cannon balls of the Spikers with their rock-
solid blocks but the methodical Espiritu found a crack and ended the first and second sets with a strong
finish, 25-23 and 25-18.
Fire-powered Netters broke their silence and set to unleash their deadly retaliation pulling their rare
maneuvers and their bolt-action kills, putting the Spikers out of breath, 22-22 deadlock.
The unstoppable Spikers continued their vicious invasion through their well-known fatal spikes and
finishing touches until the Netters finally dropped their guns, 25-22 victory.
The training we had is a no-nonsense. Thats why we won. We really thank God and of course, our
coach so much! the overwhelmed Espiritu exclaimed.

In the electrifying 2015 EUSSAA basketball rumble

Solsona outplays Dingras, 103-86
MARCOS - Jeremy Ritz Agpalo dished out a phenomenal performance and made the biggest basket
in a down-to-the-wire battle, lifting Solsona past Dingras, 103-86, and into the threshold of an outright
INAA entry in the Basketball Men Championship during the East Unit Secondary Schools Athletic
Association Meet, Oct. 2.
Witnessed by a throng of sports enthusiasts, both teams started slowly as they both ran into the maze
in the opening round.
Solsona ballers, with the big attempts of Agpalo and Denver Cuntapay, blasted an 8-point run with
less than two minutes to seal the lead, 50-42, as the first half buzzer sounded in their whirlwind game.
In the second half, the blazing Solsona heated the court as they zoomed with offspins and hotshots
leaving Dingras grasping for breath, 95-80.
Agpalo, switched on the adrenaline of his camp by carrying Solsona shooters on that crucial moment
and bombed consecutive lay-ups and shoots that shattered the rivals hope of bringing the crown, 103-86.
They are skillful players, too. It was just faith that we won the game, Agpalo said.

Warriors grab 1st SOSSAA Meet crown

Victory is ours!
Top dog Warriors of Maananteng Campus ruled the intense war of sports heroes and blocked
the way of their helpless rivals, etching their name as the champion of the first-ever Solsona
Secondary Schools Athletic Association (SOSSAA) Meet held at Solsona Public Plaza, Sept. 21-22.
The blazing Warriors excelled in sepak takraw men and women, lawn tennis men and women,
volleyball women, badminton men and women, basketball men, taekwondo men and women, arnis men,
table tennis women, which drove them to clinch 56 instant golds.
Fire-powered Movers of Bagbag Campus exploded their lethal strategies and played like roaring tigers
matched with brutal moves in basketball women, softball, baseball, swimming, and athletics, which made
them gain 48 golds, landing as first runner-up.
Strikers of Talugtog Campus stepped out of the shadows and reigned in volleyball men, arnis women,
table tennis men, making them pocket the third place with 23 golds.
 On the other hand, ferocious and highly-powered Smashers of Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial
Academy, Inc. sweltered their high-octane attacks in futsal and soccer, making them fourth placer with 5
golds.
Thanks God we won. We hope that our triumph will usher our future victories, said Mr. John Dee
Manuel, sports coordinator of the Warriors.

Sports Editorial
Todays First, Tomorrows Triumph
Last September 21 to 22, the three campuses of Solsona National High School (SNHS) namely
Maananteng, Talugtog, and Bagbag; with Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Academy, Inc. (GRBASMAI)
fought for the athletic crown in the first-ever Solsona Secondary Schools Athletic Association. This activity
aimed to foster unity and camaraderie among the four participating teams, and eventually to widen the pool
of players to be selected for the East Unit Secondary Schools Athletic Association (EUSSAA) Meet.
In the past few years, only the three campuses of Solsona National High School were battling for the
shimmering crown. But this year, GRBASMAI came into view and added a roster of athletes to the pool of
players from the three campuses of SNHS.
Aside from that, teachers and students had a chance to be together for two days and started to build
friendship among them, which is actually one of the objectives of the activity.
The SOSSAA Meet helped much in the selection of the best athletes who represented Solsona in the
EUSSAA Meet. New athletes, never before discovered, joined the squad and added force to our team,
Solsona. Though we were not able to achieve the championship title in this years EUSSAA Meet, it was only
a few golds behind Dingras, enough indication that with more effort next year, we could become the
champion.
May this years SOSSAA Meet be the start of future triumphs.

Sports Caravan
Maintaining and Striving
For several years, the East Unit Secondary Schools Athletic Association (EUSSAA) has been the
champion in the Ilocos Norte Athletic Association (INAA) Meet. Unfortunately, it was not able to maintain a
winning streak last year as it lost to the Central Unit Athletic Association (CUSSAA).
Because of this, the EUSSAA players trained hard and boosted their energy levels for this years
athletic meet. With the support and guidance of the administration, coaches, trainers, parents, municipal
officials and other civic-spirited individuals, the training grounds were prepared with precision. There were
sweats of patience, pains of perseverance, and tears of faith during the rigid training.
And at long last, after a physically-stressing and mind-boggling training, the glory is back. EUSSAA is
declared the champion in this years INAA Meet. Efforts have paid off.
With this, it is very evident how preparation is very crucial for success. The result highlights the
importance of discipline in the achievement of goals. It likewise underscores the role of determination and
faith in the part of the athletes for them to capture their dream. Support from key people is also instrumental
in the attainment of the glittering gold. Thus, for the next INAA, these key elements should not be abolished.
Next year, there shall be again a change in the roster of athletes. Most of the greatest athletes shall
graduate and they are needed to be replaced by new athletes. They are trained until they have the same
levels or higher levels to others. Though the rookies have talent, they may not be enough to be a
replacement.
Thus, in order for EUSSAA to maintain its crown, may the people behind the athletes be not tired of
supporting these players. May the players themselves possess enough discipline, determination and faith in
order for them to surmount the challenges that block their way to victory. And lastly, may God be with them
as they enter the battlefield next year.
May these come true and more, for it is noted: The ball is round.