The FCIC Heralds showcased determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship as they competed in the Baybay City Fiesta Basketball Tournament 2025 (Pasarelle Game), held in Baybay City, Leyte. The tournament officially began with an advance game on December 6, 2025, followed by the opening ceremony on December 7, 2025, which was attended by participating teams from the Under-16, Inter-Office, and Commercial teams, and was graced by Honorable Simoune L. Astorga, one of the city officials, highlighting the strong community support for youth sports development.
Representing the Franciscan College of the Immaculate Conception in the Under-16 category, the FCIC Heralds were coached by Mr. Johannes Jobet Alfafara, with Mr. Ken Alexes F. Lor serving as assistant coach. The team was composed of committed student-athletes: John Rhiden Gallardo, Ammier Conrad Polo, Rain Salubre, John Noel Albarico, Genrich Enage, Javan Raj Ramirez, Raff Aguinaldo, Douglas Brion Hicom, Mark Xavier Ganda, Dwayne Paraiso, Rolly James Cortes, Klent Louie Romano, Aki Shiozaki Tomas, Guian, Timothy Gotz, Arjhon Razaga, Prince Mascariñas, and Rob Ison Becalas.
The FCIC Heralds were grouped in Bracket A, alongside MBC Lions, VSU Bison, and AJJJA. The team opened their campaign with a strong performance in their first game held at the Makeshift Gymnasium in Baybay City, Leyte, where they secured a convincing victory against the MBC Lions. On the second day of competition at the Barangay Candadam Gymnasium, Baybay City, Leyte, the FCIC Heralds continued their winning momentum with another win against the VSU Bison. In their third game, which marked the return of matches to the Makeshift Gymnasium in Baybay City, the Heralds faced AJJJA and absorbed their first loss of the tournament. Despite this setback, the two consecutive victories were enough to secure a semifinal berth for the team.
As part of the crossover matches, the FCIC Heralds faced teams from Bracket B, which included Testify, Baybay National High School, Cogon, and Empire Eastside, with the remaining games all held at the Makeshift Gymnasium in Baybay City, Leyte. In their fourth game, the Heralds were defeated by Testify. Despite their determined effort on the fifth day of competition, the team narrowly missed advancing as the second placer. Nevertheless, the FCIC Heralds finished the tournament as the 3rd Placer, a commendable achievement against strong competition.
The performance of the FCIC Heralds reflects the institution’s commitment to holistic student development, where athletics serve as a platform for building character, resilience, and teamwork. Beyond wins and losses, the tournament became a valuable learning experience for the student-athletes, reinforcing the true spirit of the game.
As basketball legend Michael Jordan once said, “Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game.” Guided by this mindset, the FCIC Heralds played with heart and pride—an achievement that the entire FCIC community celebrates and looks forward to building upon in future competitions.
by Ken Alexes Lor
