By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Iloilo Giants prevailed over Negros Occidental, 80-73, in the 2025 WVRAA Meet secondary boys basketball championship at the Binirayan Sports Complex in San Jose, Antique on Thursday night, March 6.
The Giants were represented by the St. Robert’s International Academy Panda Rockets-Elite Lab in the competition, while the Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts carried the fight for Negros Occidental.
Among the members of the Panda Rockets secondary team are Kyle Sardon, Michsan Onate, Paul Jovan Santome, Jhon Rey Alarcon, Rio John Doronilla, and Luke John Rose.
Also part of the squad are Nike Gadong, Shaun Arnold Gumela, Airez John Macadangdang, Rusell Clib Puga, Derrick Suspena, and Ace Maestral.
The Giants elementary team, also represented by the Panda Rockets-Elite Lab, also ruled the elementary division with a 48-45 victory over Negros Occidental.
Bannering the Panda Rockets elementary boys basketball team are Mark Santi Coronica, Matt Owen Chua, Rafael Arevalo, Johnry James Parcon, Niel Catimbang, and Ethan Toledo.
Also part of the John Guanco-mentored squad are Travis Sayo, Ace Polines, Shian Will Laña, Tyler Guion, Alex Empleo, and Kristopher Roquillo.
The two Panda Rockets squads will now advance to the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, which is slated from May 24 to June 2 at Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
“We are happy to win the WVRAA Meet, and we are hoping that we can represent the region well when we compete in Palarong Pambansa,” team manager Eugene Chua told Watchmen Daily Journal./ASC, WDJ