SOLIDARITY ROCKED AT 1ST ANVIL SPORTSFEST FINALS

Strength. Fortitude, Altitude. These were the three words foremost on the minds of the participants as more than a hundred members of the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club) converged at Celebrity Sports Plaza for the much-anticipated "Anvil Sportsfest Finals" – the Club's first-ever, inter-organization athletic intramural involving no less than seven different sporting events in a single day.
With four distinct teams – Team Dragon Fireworks, Team West Avenue Residences (WAR), Team Hobe/Far East, and Team Crown Pipes – actively competing in basketball, bowling, table tennis, badminton, billiards and the Tug-of-War (with special events such as the 3-point basketball shoot-out), the Finals signaled an exciting conclusion to the Club's two-month-long playoffs that culminated in one major sporting event that brought out the best in each participant.
Team Dragon fireworks ran away with the overall championship – having placed exceptionally well in almost all events with a total score of 880 points. Team Hobe/Far East salvaged the second spot when they defeated Team West Avenue Residences (WAR) in a "make-or-break" event: the Tug-of-War. Team Hobe/Far East led by a wafer-thin margin, 5 points going into the final event, finishing with 540 points, while Team WAR settled for third place with 515 points. Team Crown Pipes ended up in the rear with 450 points.
The basketball finals saw Team Crown Pipes bringing home the championship as they outclassed the burnt-out Team Dragon Fireworks, with star scorer Hans Perez leading pack with 25 points and 9 rebounds; MVP Denzil Li chalked up 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds; while Marvin Yee added 20 points and 7 rebounds to the final tally. Second placer Team Dragon Fireworks was led by Kenneth Dee with 19 points and 6 rebounds while Nikko Lim chipped in 7 points and 15 rebounds..
Also in the basketball competitions, Team West ave residences salvage 3rd place when the beat Team Hobe/Far East 78-58. Team West ave residences was led by scoring champion Wilbert Uy with 26 pts, Alex Tan added 19pts, Richard Lui added 12 pts and Eckhart Ang pulled down 14 rebounds. Team Hobe/Far East was led by Earl Chua with 30 points and 21 rebounds.
In the Tables Tennis competition, the Ladies' Singles event was dominated by Team WAR's Melany Gale Sy, while Team Dragon Firework's Elaine Hao Chin captured the second spot and Team Hobe/Far East's Aileen Siy took the third. On the other hand, the Men's Singles championship went to Team Hobe/Far East's Hanz Chan; as the second place finish went to Team Dragon Firework's Kenneth Dee; while Team WAR's Carl Yao settled for third.
One of the most participated events was the Bowling Championships, as Team Dragon Fireworks topped this round, leaving Team Hobe/Far East and Team WAR to cap second and third places, respectively. The Men's Singles champion went to Team Dragon Firework's Jim Howard See; while Team Crown Pipe's Jim Chiu bagged second, and Team Hobe/Far East's Brian Lim settled for third place. The Ladies Singles champion was won by Team Crown Pipe's Larraine Chuacokiong, as Team Hobe/Fear East's Therese Pua bagged second place, while Team Dragon Firework's Jeanne Kao was awarded third.
In the more subdued, yet equally riveting cue sports event, the Billiards Singles Championship went to Team Hobe/Far East's Ace Olano, while second place went to Team Dragon Fireworks' Ong Jov, as the third place finish went to Team WAR's Yohann Matthew Sy. The Billiards Doubles Championship saw Team WAR's unbeatable tandem Alex Kua and Rudy Ngo bag first place; while second place honors went to Team Dragon Fireworks' Noel Yu and Mike Tan; as third place billing was awarded to Team Hobe/Far East's Kendrick Yu and Richmond Ngan.
Over-all Badminton Team Champion went to Team Dragon Fireworks, as the Men's Doubles Championship went to the unbeatable tandem of Joven Ong and Nelson Yuvilla. Second place honors went to Team Hobe/Far Easts' Erwin Ngo and Patrick Cua, while Third place ranking went to Kendrick Yu and AJ Lim. In the Ladies Doubles match-up, the overall champion went to the tandem of Team Dragon Firework's Ian Cheng and Valerie Hernandez, as Second Place finish went to Jennifer James Tan and Elaine Hao Chin, while Third Place honors was bagged by Team Hobe/Far East's Seleena Kaw and Wilynda Chua. The Mixed Doubles Championship inevitably went to Team WAR's unbeatable duo, Erika Rellera and Danny Hernandez; while the Second Place honors went to Ian Madera and Therese Pua; while the Third Place finish was awarded to Team Dragon Fireworks' Bettina Reyes and Kevin Ong Tai.
One of the most-awaited events was the Basketball 3-Point Shoot Out, where participants attempt to make as many three-point field goals as possible from five positions behind the three-point arc in one minute. The Shooting Stars' Championship in this event went to Team Crown Pipes' Marvin Yee, while Team Dragon Fireworks' Noel Yu garnered Second Place, and Team WAR's Teddy Tee bagged Third Place.
Other Special Awards went to the following:
1. Basketball's "Best Defensive Player" – Christopher Yae
2. Basketball's "Mythical Five:"
a) Denzil Li
b) Alex Tan
c) Wilbert Uy
d) Jayson Sze
e) Nikko Lim.
3. And finally, Basketball's "Most Valuable Player" – Denzil Li.
More than just the trophies, medals and honors, this landmark sports program has achieved even greater objectives: First, it promoted camaraderie and rapport among the members and officers of the Club; as it is, this undertaking is already poised to build a strong bond and cohesion among its now over 250-strong membership. Second, it has taught members the value of teamwork; in which, in real work environments, the ability to work well with other people with efficiency and efficacy is one of the most valuable attributes a member should have. And finally, it has heightened the value of sportsmanship among participants. The ability to accept bitter defeat is a sign of maturity and the ability to bounce back strong, triumphing over one's adversary will enable the members to experience resiliency and innovation to their respective enterprises.
Kudos to the Sports Committee, led by Sports and Outdoor Activities Director Christopher Go, Sportsfest Chairman and Commissioner Chester So, and members Zel Chua and Richmond Co for their extraordinary work in making the Club's first Sportsfest a milestone undertaking that will be remembered for years to come!