The Philippine Sport Association (PSA) of Edmonton, sponsored by the Crosstown Auto Centre launched its 2016 Spring/Summer Basketball League last March 6 at the Father Michael Troy Gymnasium in Edmonton.
The Barako Boys, Maldito, Team Elite, Team Eswar, Team Insulator Knights, and ADM Eye Ballers meet on several dates as the games are scheduled throughout the two seasons. These teams opened the first eight games and will be followed by other games. The Barako Boys, who enjoyed a championship win last season, met Sunlife Financial in the curtain-raiser at 8 a.m.
A Celebrity Games Elimination Round was held on March 19, at the Father Michael Troy in the morning. Two out of town teams, one from Calgary and the other from Red Deer competed with four local teams.
The actual event, Celebrity Games Canada Tour 2016, was scheduled on March 25, and featured celebrities Ian Veneracion, Onyok Velasco, Marco Alvarez, Joross Gamboa and Matt Evans. The game was held at the University of Concordia Gym.
The PSA is a non-profit sports organization in Edmonton headed by Joey Doctolero. PSA is now entering its twenty-first year in serving the Filipino community by organizing basketball and volleyball leagues to promote camaraderie.
Crosstown Auto Centre, whose president is Filipino-Canadian from Edmonton Joe Medina, has been supporting PSA by providing jerseys for the 600 players who joined this season.
Rosette Correa
