This year’s Filipino basketball season wraps up in St. Paul, Alberta

The Vilna Team plays the Edmonton Hustlers during the semi-finals.(Mario Cabradilla)

ST. PAUL, Alberta, Canada – The St. Paul Filipino Sports League (SPFSL) recently concluded its third annual basketball season on July 22 and 23 at the Racette Jr. High School gymnasium.

It was a celebration of cultural unity, healthy competition, and sportsmanship. Teams from across the Lakeland and surrounding communities participated in the tournament. There were three teams from St. Paul. One team each from Lac La Biche, Vegreville, Vilna, Cold Lake, and four teams that made the trip from Edmonton.

Jennifer Mari, who chairs the SPFSL, said that in addition to bringing the Filipino community together, the annual sports league also hopes to share the love for sports with others. She noted while the league may be a Filipino league, teams can include non-Filipino athletes on their teams to join in the fun.

“It’s to share our own culture and make friends,” said Mari.

Freddy Amigo, SPFSL committee-member, said the league also offers an opportunity to showcase the Town of St. Paul to the Filipino community across the province, and show how “accommodating” the Town can be.

Gary Perpetua, founder and president of the Philippines Sports Association (PSA), Canada’s biggest Filipino sports league, expressed his surprise with how welcoming the St. Paul community was.

“I would like to thank [SPFSL] for inviting us. It’s a privilege and honour to be here,” said Perpetua. “Of all the little communities we’ve been in or officiated… St. Paul is the number one.”

Referees for the tournament were provided by the PSA, and the SPFSL gave “us a mega accommodation,” Perpetua said.

PSA is also a member of the Edmonton United Basketball Association (EUBA), a group consisting of all the basketball leagues in Edmonton, and some from outside the city. SPFSL recently joined the group.

Perpetua said this is to help keep the integrity of the sport, which includes protecting players under the EUBA banner. For example, there may be some cases where a player gets banned from a league for hurting others. A EUBA membership means that player is also banned from other member leagues. “So, they’re going to think twice hurting others.”

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But EUBA also acts as a “joint-venture” among members, better connecting everyone when it comes to initiatives like fundraising efforts to help people back in the Philippines, said Perpetua. Ultimately, “We’re helping each other,” he said, expressing his joy about the SPFSL joining EUBA.

Speaking of the recent league tournament, Mari thanked all the sponsors on behalf of the SPFSL committee, for making the event possible. She also thanked St. Paul Education for providing the venue as well.

Amigo also thanked all those who came out, and the teams’ fans “for their never-ending support.”

The Lac La Biche team won this year’s league title, playing against the Edmonton Hustlers in the finals.

On July 15 and 16, the SPFSL held its annual volleyball league finals as well. That event also saw teams come out from within and beyond the Lakeland region. Lac La Biche’s team also won that tournament. – Lakeland Today