BY NOW, everybody knows that the players of the Talisay Aquastars are talented.
But what many don’t know is that these same players are also prayer warriors.
It is in fact because of their deep faith that the team achieved its goal in this season of the Cebu Governor’s Cup Inter Cities/Municipalities Basketball Tournament.
Talisay City Councilor Rodi Cabigas during the team’s victory party last Thursday night said prayers played a huge role in the team’s unbeaten run to the title this year.
“For me, no matter how talented your players are and how good your team is, if you don’t pray, then it’s useless,” said Cabigas, a known sports advocate in this southern city of Cebu. “We prayed hard, we asked for this title and our prayers were answered.”
The Aquastars bagged the overall title of the cash-rich tournament by beating San Francisco, 66-64, in Game 2 of the Finals last Wednesday.
Cabigas revealed that right from the first game of the Aquastars, the entire team, headed by coach Rey Gurrea, always visited a church before tipoff to ask for guidance and strength.
“The mayor (Eduardo Gullas) was the one instructed me to tell the team to visit the church, considering that his mother (Josefina Rivera-Gullas) started this tradition way back before in the University of the Visayas. She tells the teams and athletes to visit a church before they compete,” said Cabigas.
Cabigas added that the support from the city government was another factor that helped the Aquastars win it all.
“They are also motivated because of the support of the entire city of Talisay,” said Cabigas.
And this is the reason why the victory meant a lot not only for the city government but also the constituents of Talisay City.
“Lipay lang kaayo ang mga officials, labaw nga nalipay ang mga yanong mga Talisaynon kay 14 ka games walay pildi-pildi,” said Mayor Gullas. (The city officials are happy, and so are the people of Talisay because we were unbeaten in 14 games.)