YOUNG PISTOLEROS— Governor Amado Espino Jr. welcomes Johncis Mercado, 11, and Nicolette Ingalla, 15, who joined the Pangasinan Shootfest 2008, dubbed as the 1st Gov. Amado Espino Cup 2008, at the PNP Firing Range in Lingayen. Mercado and Ingalla, both from Cabanatuan City, are members of the Nueva Ecija Practical Shooting Association (NEPSA) and were two of the youngest practical shooters who participated in the competition. (Punchphoto by Cesar S. Ramirez)

LINGAYEN—Athletes from Villasis composed of Jefferson Valdez, Albert Calvero and Robeno Javier emerged as champions in the first Pangasinan Pistay Dayat 2008 Amazing Triathlon Event (ATE) dubbed as ‘Lumbay Langoy, Bisikleta tan Batik’.

The trio registered an official time of 110 minutes and 14 seconds to win the event.

The tri-athletes swam from Bonuan beach to the mouth of Pantal River in Dagupan City, then mounted their bikes to race from Pugaro to the PNP Target Range in Lingayen, and finally sprinted from the PNP Target Range to reach the finish line at the beachfront area at the back of the Urduja House.
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RATED bowling players from Manila dominated both Groups I and II in the Mayor Al Fernandez Bowling Cup held from April 22 to 27 at the CSI the City Mall as part of the Dagupan Bangus Festival.

About 100 players from Manila, Makati, Baguio, Batangas and other parts of the country participated in the tournament, also known as the 6th DATBI (Dagupan Tenpin Bowling Inc.) - CSI Invitational Open Championship.

Group 1, composed of veteran and seasoned players, was won by Benson Co of the Manila Tenpin Bowling Association (MTBA), bagging the grand prize of P60,000 Joonee Gatchalian of MTBA-Henrich bagged the first runner-up prize of P30,000 while Kevin Cu of TBAM (Tenpin Bowling Association of Makati)-PRIMA pocketed the second runner-up prize of P20,000.
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LINGAYEN—The Bani National High School team is this year’s champion of the first-ever “Beach Volleybelles” held on April 30 at the Lingayen Beach front.

The Bani National High School’s Volleybelles brought home the grand prize of P5,000.

University of Cordillera placed second for P3,000 while University of Luzon captured the third slot for P2,000.

Others that saw action in the volleybelle competition were teams from Lingayen 1 and II and the Pangasinan National High School.
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MUD WRESTLING—Two boys past their teens mix it up in mud wrestling before an appreciative crowd that gathered at Tondaligan Park on May 1, during the Pista ng Dagat celebration this year. (Photo by Willy Lomibao)

LINGAYEN–Tour de Pangasinan, a three-day cycling event, will reel off on May 1 to 3 in line with the province-wide celebration of the Pista’y Dayat.

Former Board Member Dionisio “Saffe” Villar, Jr, president of the Eastern Pangasinan Cycling Association Inc. and organizer of the race, said 120 professional and amateur cyclists are expected to join the competition.

The opening event, covering a 200-kilometer route, will start in front of the Capitol and will finish in Bayambang, covering the first and second districts.
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TARAY TI ASINGAN–Couple Jefferson and Rowena Valdez, winners of the 16-kilometer marathon in men’s and women’s category, make a theatrical run after their victory followed by former President Fidel Ramos and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, both natives of Asingan, with newsman Freddie Fajardo (left) of dzRH and former PUNCH reporter Eva Visperas (in white blouse) during April 19’s Taray ti Asingan. The marathon was launched by Ramos in 1982 and has since been a part of the town’s annual fiesta. (Punchphoto by Cesar S. Ramirez)

Watch out for Pangasinan vs. the world on the pool table!

The world’s cue masters will test the mettle of the best of local talents during the Dagupan Bangusfest Billiards Challenge slated April 28 to 29 at the Atrium of the CSI the City Mall in Dagupan City.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chair person of the 2008 Dagupan Bangus Festival, said great names in world of billiards like Ronato ‘the Volcano’ Alcano, Dennis Orcullo, Robert Gomez and Joven Bustamante have been invited.
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FIRST NATIONAL TITLE FOR REGION 1

THE University of Luzon Golden Tigers won the 2nd edition of the Men’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (MNCAA) National Games on March 29, the first team ever in Region 1 to bag a national championship.

The Golden Tigers of brothers Dr. Macky and Councilor Chito Samson, representing Region I in this national tournament held in San Fernando, Pampanga, nipped Region III champion Lyceum of Olongapo, 85-83, in its initial outing before plastering Bicol champion PSU, 94-62.

In the cross-over semi-final, the Perez Boulevard-based cagers nipped defending champion Centro Escolar University, 72-70, to arrange the championship showdown with National Capital Region Champion La Consolacion College which they beat, 82-74.
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