By: Celso M. Cajucom

PALAYAN City, Nueva Ecija  – The visitors “Dream Team Sakuragi” invaded Plaza Concepcion on Monday, December 1, 2025, for a friendly basketball game against the “MVC Kids,” the team of Mayor Viandrei Nicole “Vianne” Joson Cuevas.

Mayor Cuevas extended the invitation for the fun exhibition game to challenge her MVC Kids, who recently clinched the city’s basketball championship title.

Team Sakuragi consists of nine “midget” players who perform for communities during local festivals and events, with combined of exhibition of basketball game and comedic entertainment to entertain their constituents, according to their official Facebook Page.

Following the game, several comments on a social media Facebook page mentioning that MVC was the actual winner.

The Sakuragi team, on the other hand, was initially credited with the win against the “MVC Kids,” while some of the Facebook comments from game witnesses was contradicted, claiming that the Sakuragi team was actually lost but they were still declared winners for entertainment and enjoyment of the fans.

During the game, the “MVC Kids” went a head-to-head in the fourth quarter of the game.

For the entertainment of the fans, a comical twist occurred also in the last quarter when the “MVC Kids” scored, the points were mistakenly (or intentionally, for entertainment) added to the Sakuragi team’s total.

And whenever the Dream-Team’s star player, Sakuragi, hit a three-point shot, the crowd were erupted in huge roars and laughter, He also jokingly offered a reward for a free-kiss to any single, married or widowed woman in the audience if he scored a three-point shot.

Mayor Cuevas personally attended the basketball exhibition game, where she was joined by city officials and her fianceé.

In an interview with Current correspondent, Mayor Cuevas announced that their game is one of the highlights of Palayan City’s 60th founding anniversary celebration, “Pala-Alay, A Festival of Heritage and Progress of Palayan City sa Anim na Dekada,” which will runs all week, from December 1 to December 5, 2025.

The series of event features numerous activities, including ecumenical service, a grand parade, a Kadiwa ng Pangulo market, various sports activities, recycled Parol competition, Pala-Alay Fun rush, Super Lolo & wonder Lola, pet care & welfare day.

The events will also take place, including a Barangay night, a dance festival and street showdown, a thanksgiving service, and the highly anticipated “Kabisera Festival Night.”

She added that the “Kabisera Festival Night” will be free for all residents in the city also with guests and visitors from neighboring towns and city. She also cordially invited the media to provide event coverage.

This celebration will feature a lively lineup of popular artists and celebrities, including comedians Negi and Petite, rapper Hellmerry, BGYO, Six Part Invention, singer/actress Gigi De Lana, and Vice Ganda, slated on Friday, December 5, 2025.