Twenty years ago, the Philippine Sport Association(PSA) was formed to promote sportsmanship and camaraderie among Filipino-Edmontonians and Mariano Velasco, head custodian of the Mother Mary Margaret School, was first elected president.
Velasco and the first batch of volunteers even paved the way for others to become part of an association that, as the years go by, has created a great venue for newcomers to belong and the merging of other Filipino basketball leagues.
More improvements took place under the leaderships of Armando Marticias, Boy Torres, Ed Ruiz, Allan Angeles, Gary Perpetua and Joey Doctolero, the current president.
Two years ago, Crosstown Auto Centre’s sponsorship boosted PSA’s standing in the community that saw the increase of participating teams to 30 squads. When PSA started, they had only six teams.
Doctolero admitted that they cannot even accommodate the other teams that applied last year for participation but they are preparing for the next league to make sure they can join the PSA.
To wrap up the 2015 league, the best teams and players will be honored tonight during the Awards Night and Recognition dubbed “Dalawang Dekada, Dalawang Henerasyon”.
And for Doctolero and the rest of the officers to witness what they’ve done, they give each others a firm handshake, a warm embrace and a pat on the back for a job well done.
Mabuhay ang PSA! (p.e.n.)
Pinoy Edmonton News 