Bleacher Talk

Bleacher Talk August 31, 2008 Youth Basketball With your permission, I’d like to write about something that is close to our hearts, not only since we’re an advocate for it, but more importantly since we’re now directly involved in it. I usually don’t write about the sports events that we manage, but this will have to be an exception to the rule. We have been given the challenge to manage the BEST Center’s SBP/Passerelle twin tournament starting this year, and with much reluctance and hesitation, we decided to accept the challenge for the purpose of helping in the development of school-based basketball for the youth. As an advocate, we’ve always written and talked about it, but the guilty part of it is how we never really back up our words with action. And so here we are facing the challenge of not only talking, but also doing our share of “walk the talk.” It seems like only yesterday when the first youth-based tournament organized by Bleacher Talk just ended. The Cebu Youth Basketball ...

We are pleased to "announce" that the SHSJ Football Club (Team SHSJ-Spain) won the Under 8 age group championship at the San Roque Cup Football Festival last Saturday, Aug. 22. We defeated San Roque, 1-0 in the finals, scoring the game-winning goal with around two minutes left in the game. Earlier in the semis, we defeated Don Bosco, via penalty shoot-out, 2-1. We went 4-0 in the elimination round to qualify for the playoffs. Congratulations to the team, and let's move on to continue strengthening the foundation of the club for the future. (L-R): MVP Kyle Go, Carlos Berlin, Leo Macquiling, Roland Mattsen, Mico Lee, Jan Momongan, Coach Nito Tapia.

Bleacher Talk August 10, 2008 Olympics: Pinoy as Spectators Did you see the beautiful opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics? How did you feel when you saw all those athletes, performers and politicians waving flags and showing off their million dollar smiles? Did you feel proud when you saw Manny Pacquiao leading the Philippine team, proudly carrying the Philippine flag? How did you feel about Asia’s hosting an Olympic Games? It happens every four years, and each time, a host city is always on a mission to outdo all the previous hosts in the history of the Olympics. The same is true for the countries and the athletes who are out to prove that they’re the best in the world in their respective sports events. So many storylines can be drawn each time the Olympics is held, and all of these reflect dramatic stories carrying a theme to always do better than the past. Michael Phelps is chasing Mark Spitz. In gymnastics, the Americans are out to prove that they can defeat the Chinese at t...

Bleacher Talk August 3, 2008 CESAFI @ 8 The biggest basketball show in Cebu is back and it’s going to be even better! The CESAFI 2008 basketball tournament kicked off yesterday with the traditional opening ceremonies, but when the action starts, only one question will be asked. Will the University of the Visayas (UV) win an eighth straight championship? The million dollar question will be highlighted even more this year as the Lancers are perceived to be fielding what could be one of their weakest line-ups in seven years of the CESAFI. This season is already being predicted to be the most competitive and balanced in terms of competition. The irony of it all is that the Lancers are still the team to beat from the perspective of most CESAFI coaches. But if you look at the past three or four years of the biggest collegiate league south of Manila, you can’t help but notice how the invincibility that the Lancers carried with them is slowly but surely being torn down. In CESAFI 2007, the Uni...