ILAGAN, ISABELA — Days after savoring the success of hosting the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, the local government unit of the City of Ilagan is bracing for another potential smashing hit as Barangay Ginebra’s beloved reinforcement Justin Brownlee teams up with his long-time rival, three-time Best import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of TNT, as they both shore up the Meralco Bolts, who will represent the country in the East Asia Super League.
The city is going to host the Bolts’ home game on November 8 and once again on December 6 and the Ilagueños are out to give the same love to the team, which were felt by the four teams which participated in the PVL over the weekend — the Creamline Cool Smashers, the Pero Gazz Angels, the Chery Tiggo Crossovers and the Galeries Tower Highrisers.
Ricky Laggui, head of the general services division of the LGU, told the Manila Times that tickets in the PVL were sold out in the league’s return to the Corn Capital of the Philippines. Last month, during the league’s On Tour event, organizers brought in the PLDT High Speed Hitters, the Angels, the Farm Fresh Freshies and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
This time, Ilagan City is bracing for another potential blockbuster offering not only for its local folks but also for the people in the Cagayan Valley.
In an interview with Pinoystep.com, Mayor Jay Diaz was overwhelmed by another jampacked double header right at the heart of the sports tourism hub of the north.
“Grabe yung excitement ng mga tao sa PVL. Jampacked talaga. In two months na dinala namin yung PVL dito, talagang pinuno yung 10,000-seater capacity ng Capital Arena,” said Mayor Diaz.
His son, Vice Mayor Jayve Diaz, welcomed the participating teams and proudly shared that the successful staging of the PVL served as the living testament of the City of Ilagan’s title as the sports tourism hub of the north.
“Hawak-hawak ko pa ang simbolo na nagpapatunay na ang Lungsod ng Ilagan ang tinaguriang sports tourism hub of the north,” said Vice Mayor Diaz.
“Naipanalo natin ito noong 2024 at pangatlo tayo sa buong Pilipinas. Sinisigurado namin dahil sa initiative ng local government unit, hindi kami titigil sa pag-invite ng mga possible sports event at sa paggawa ng paraan para sa iba pang sports events na papasok sa Lungsod ng Ilagan para balang araw ay tayo naman ang maging sports tourism hub ng buong Pilipinas.”
The four participating teams were given a rock-star treatment, particularly Creamline, led by the unsinkable Alyssa Valdez, Michelle Gumabao and the rest of the Cool Smahers, who swept the Highrisers of Galeries Tower.
Petro Gazz, which won its first ever championship in the All-Filipino, also caught the fancy of the local folks as the team bannered by Brooke Van Sickle and an equally fan favorite Myla Pablo, upstaged Chery Tiggo, led by team captain Aby Maraño and Pauline Gaston.
On November 8, basketball fans will have their turn throwing support to another crowd darling — Brownlee, who will be teaming up for the first time with his old nemesis, Hollis-Jefferson, as they backstop the Bolts in the EASL.
Brownlee and Hollis-Jefferson forged a rivalry not only in the PBA, but only in the Asian Games.
Hollis-Jefferson had defeated Brownlee three times in as many championship meetings in the PBA’s import-laced conferences, but the latter was able to out one over his long-time tormentor when he led Gilas Pilipinas to a gold medal finish against Jordan, reinforced by the former NBA star, who was the Jordanians’ naturalized player.
Hollis-Jefferson couldn’t hide his excitement joining forces with Brownlee.
“The amount of time I spent watching JB (Brownlee) and the amount of time I’ve watched Meralco, it boiled down for me being a student of the game, and I tend to look at myself like that, understanding our guys on how to thrive and put them in the best situations. I think that would help us in the EASL,” said Hollis-Jefferson. “It’s kinda like which way do I have to turn instead of me getting a 35. JB can get 35. For me, it’s about setting the guys up and putting them in the best situation.”
Hollis-Jefferson also has a fitting description for Ismael Romero, one of the Bolts’ imports in the EASL.
“He’s my guy. He’s a workhorse,” added Hollis-Jefferson. “He works extremely hard. You can see his physique, he’s a monster. He’s gonna leave it all out there. He doesn’t have ego. He comes there, plays hard and show up.”
Hollis-Jefferson, TNT’s reinforcement, is excited for Ilagan, Isabela cheering for them, but he won’t be surprised if he’s going to hear a familiar chant of Ginebra!, Ginebra!, even if the game is being played miles away from the metropolis.
“All the fans would come together to watch the game.It’s going to be fun,” added Hollis-Jefferson.
