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 News from Around Banderas Bay | May 2008 
Sidral Aga XV Sports Classic Recap
 Bob Cohen - PVNN
| | Laura Famoso wins her 4th consecutive aerobics marathon. She was the last one standing after 2 hours, 50 minutes. | 
| | Team Vallarta won the basketball finals, defeating the All Star team from the north. | 
| | MVP of the basketball finals was Juan Chavez who scored 27 points, played great defense and was the spark plug Team Vallarta needed as they pulled away in the final quarter of play. | 
| | The youngest player at 20 on Team Aga was Arturo Prieto who is now playing basketball for the Universidad De Las Americas in Puebla, Mexico. | 
| | Team Vallarta celebrates with the championship trophy. | 
| | Both teams along with Aga sponsors celebrate the end of another Sports Classic championship basketball game. | 
| | Berry Randle was the high scorer with 29 points but it wasn't enough this year for victory. | 
| | From left to right, wining amateur Eduardo Fernandez with his pro partner Roberto Lopez who defeated amateur Branco Musich and pro Samuel Sanchez in the finals of the tennis Pro-Am. | 
| | In the middle "B" champion Cesar Huerto and on the left is runner up Rodrigo Martinez and joined by the Canto Del Sol tennis staff and Sports Classic officials. | 
| | Marcelo Garciarce, Director General of Sidral Aga announced they will continue to be the main sponsor for future Sports Classics. Sidral Aga took sponsorship four years ago and the event grew rapidly during that period. |
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The XV Annual Sidral Aga International Sports Classic had seven (7) different sports being played almost simultaneously as competitors and fans enjoyed the latest version of the growing annual sports weekend this past May 16-18th.
The official kickoff was the Friday night cocktail party at the beautiful Sheraton by the sea, with thanks to co-founder and co-chair of the Classic, Sra. Gemma Garciarce, the owner of the resort that has been home to the annual event.
This year, as thought was being given to possibly making this year the final one, key sponsors stood up to promise that there will be many more years of competition in Puerto Vallarta.
The Director General of Sidral Aga, Marcelo Garciarce, committed to be the main sponsor of the event four years ago and at the press conference and cocktail party announced "we will go for 15 more years." And it was all settled; there will be more Sports Classics each May.
Asking who besides Sidral Aga have been the main supporters of the event throughout the years, Howard Kelsey, the other co-founder told me that Carlos O'Brien's has been there from the start and is an integral part and Corona came on board three years ago. Awards were given out this year to the supporters and all that are a part of the Sports Classic were extremely grateful.
With the appropriate thanks given to the sponsors, the main event that has grown annually in popularity and quality of play was the basketball part of the Classic. This year again matched up Team Aga, consisting of former NBA, Olympic, pro basketball and college players against the local All Stars of Puerto Vallarta.
Aga opened up a lead thanks to the red hot shooting of a newcomer to the team, Arturo Prieto, who is from Guadalajara and is currently playing college basketball for the Universidad De Las Americas in Puebla, Mexico. The shooting guard hit three 3 pointer in the 1st five minutes of play and added 8 more points to finish the quarter with 17 as Team Aga built a 25-21 lead after the fast paced 1st period.
Prieto picked up where he left off; hitting a couple more 3 pointers and the rest of the team began to contribute, especially Berry Randle, who has been a regular competitor for years for the English speaking team. The oldest player on the court, former NBA player Lars Hansen hit a big 3 and added another bucket to lead Aga to a 44-37 halftime lead.
At halftime with the youngster from Puebla shooting well and Randle starting to fill the basket, things looked good for the team from the north. As in almost every contest however, the heat and humidity in the Municipal Gym tended to favor the local Puerto Vallarta All Star team. In recent years however, Team Aga had built up a sizeable lead and withstood the comeback attempt by the locals.
In the 3rd quarter, the lead twice shrunk to two points and Aga opened it up again but a late run by the Vallarta team brought the game to its closest 3rd quarter score in Classic history; a 60-60 tie. Randle did most of the scoring for Aga in the 3rd quarter, but three players stood out for the Vallarta All Stars.
Point guard #1 Marco Vargas utilized lightening fast speed and aggressive play, #4 swingman Juan Chavez shot well, rebounded and was one of the key players that tied the game up after three. #14 Victor Monero was scoring and rebounding from the start and also was one of the big guns.
The 4th quarter began and the Vallarta team came out aggressively, playing a strong, stifling defense and began to take command of the boards and the defense made some key steals by Vargas and Chavez that wound up with some easy fast break points. The local team opened up a 10 point lead midway through the 4th quarter and only Berry Randle was able to answer with some long range 3 pointers.
The defense was smothering as much as the hot gym and with just 3 minutes remaining, it was apparent that there would be an upset. In the last minute both benches played as the game was pout of reach and Team Vallarta defeated Team Aga 91-75 in a game that was much closer than the final score indicated.
The MVP of the game was Vallarta's #4 Juan Chavez, who scored a game high 27 points, with most coming close to the paint. Marco Vargas contributed 17 points and numerous assists and steals and Victor Monero added 19 points, many on foul shots as the big guy filled the paint and drew fouls, converting his free throw attempts. Team Aga was led by Berry Randle, who scored 29 points and Arturo Prieto who scored 23 points, almost all in the first half.
After the game, warm embraces were shared and Team Aga already knew they had an unusual goal for the 2009 Classic; to gain back basketball dominance. It was great to see the home town team hang close and step up to take control late in the game and the majority of the fans became louder as the game progressed. Congratulations to Team Vallarta for a well deserved victory.
Basketball was not the only game in town and the annual marathon aerobics held early Saturday morning at the arches on the Malecon had been owned by now 41 year old Laura Famoso, who had won the three previous competitions as the younger competitors dropped out leaving her champion. The average winning time was 2 hours, 30 minutes.
Three years in a row makes one the hunted champion to dethrone, but Laura went longer this year (2 hours, 50 minutes) and was the last one standing to win her 4th consecutive title.
Tennis started Tuesday, earlier than the other sports and the highlight was a Pro-Am event as well as competitions in the A, B, C, D and Kids categories. Over 100 took to the courts at the Canto del Sol under the direction of Tennis Director Martin Parra. One match a day brought the finals to a completion Saturday afternoon with the Pro-Am event played in front of a large crowd of local tennis fans.
Local veteran pro Samuel Sanchez teamed with amateur Branco Musich to reach the finals by defeating Sergio Martinez and Jesus Tadeo Garcia 7-6, 6-3. Their opponents were pro Roberto Lopez and his amateur partner Eduardo Fernandez who defeated Danny Niño and Gabino Suarez 6-2, 7-5 to get to the finals.
Play throughout the whole Pro-Am was superb; from the opening matches through to the finals. The team of Lopez/Fernandez dominated the opening set, winning 6-1, mainly due to the better play of the amateur partner. The second set was closer and just a few points from a potential tie break, but those few points were won by Lopez and Fernandez to capture the championship with a 6-3 2nd set.
In the "A" division Jorge Joya made it to the finals and claimed the easiest victory of the tournament with a walkover win to capture the "A" championship. Veteran and consistent Cesar Huerta took on hard hitting youngster Rodrigo Martinez in the "B" final and the two battled in their contrasting styles, as Huerta prevailed in the firsts set 7-5 and then capitalized on Martinez errors to win the "B" championship with a 2nd set 6-2 victory.
The "C" division was won by Luis Ernesto Suarez, defeating Juan Miguel De Mucha 6-1, 6-4. The "D" division was played between 14 year olds Valentino Viola and David Triggs and Viola won the championship 6-4, 6-1. The Kid's division was played between 10 year old and Alberto Medina defeated Juan Pablo Green 6-4, 6-2.
More results will be coming in and we will update them as we receive them. The Sports Classic was a success once again and in three days left sports fans and competitors satisfied with the opportunity to compete and observe the high quality of competition. We thank Howard and Gemma and the dedicated sponsors for Puerto Vallarta to be able to host the international event for the 15th consecutive years. |
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