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 League (CYBL) filled in the vacuum left behind by the absence of hardcourt action after last year’s BEST tournament, and here we are, at it again, but this time for the BEST Center’s annual tournament sponsored by Milo.
The tournament, which is more popularly known as the Milo BEST tournament kicks off today with 21 teams representing 13 schools playing in two age groups: Passerelle and SBP. The Passerelle division is for boys between 12-14 years old while the SBP division is for boys 11 years old and below.
Among the regular names that will be seeing action are the University of San Carlos North and South Campuses (USC), University of Cebu (UC), Don Bosco Technological Center (DBTC), Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHSJ), University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT). Making a comeback (of sorts) are Southwestern University (SWU), Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) and Cebu Eastern College (CEC). Among the relatively new kids on the block are PAREF Springdale, BRIGHT Academy and Pope John Seminary.
For this year, our main thrust is to simply give everyone a chance to play basketball. The BEST tournament is probably the most prestigious basketball tournament for the Under 14 and Under 12 age groups that is national in scope. And it’s only proper that all schools be given the chance to compete in a league of such stature. Our schools’ basketball programs are literally thirsting for action and they should be given the chance to do so.
We made it clear with the coaches that the thrust for now is not to determine the best school team in Cebu per se. While a champion will emerge at the end of the tournament, we’re here to look at the bigger picture, and that is to develop Cebu Basketball. And the starting point for all this will be with students of the SBP and Passerelle age groups who are to play for their respective schools.
We’re also out on a mission to provide a continuity linkage or what I’d like to call a “package” for schools with basketball programs from grade school to the collegiate level. I will always look up to the programs of the well-established schools in Manila, and will readily admit that we’re way behind them in this department. Many of today’s top basketball players are products of a program that started in the SBP level and which took them up to the Passerelle, Juniors (high school) and on to the collegiate and commercial levels. The likes of Enrico Villanueva, Joseph Yeo, TY Tang, Larry Fonacier and many others are the poster boys of this model, but we have yet to discover Cebu’s products from this set-up. With many of our teams also members of the CESAFI, it’s only logical that the linkage with them be created.
It’s all about giving everyone a chance to play and showing them that there is a path to take as they grow. More games will mean more opportunities to play. And more playtime will bring in development, maturity and growth in today’s players. This is what youth basketball is all about, regardless of the tournament’s sponsor or name.
It is our wish that our basketball fans, school/team owners and benefactors share in this thrust and also do their share in making things happen.
oOo
Time-out: Do I see another possible white elephant skywalk in the making? I don’t know but it sure looks like the skywalk in Jagobiao could become another…..>>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
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 League (CYBL) filled in the vacuum left behind by the absence of hardcourt action after last year’s BEST tournament, and here we are, at it again, but this time for the BEST Center’s annual tournament sponsored by Milo.
The tournament, which is more popularly known as the Milo BEST tournament kicks off today with 21 teams representing 13 schools playing in two age groups: Passerelle and SBP. The Passerelle division is for boys between 12-14 years old while the SBP division is for boys 11 years old and below.
Among the regular names that will be seeing action are the University of San Carlos North and South Campuses (USC), University of Cebu (UC), Don Bosco Technological Center (DBTC), Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHSJ), University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT). Making a comeback (of sorts) are Southwestern University (SWU), Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) and Cebu Eastern College (CEC). Among the relatively new kids on the block are PAREF Springdale, BRIGHT Academy and Pope John Seminary.
For this year, our main thrust is to simply give everyone a chance to play basketball. The BEST tournament is probably the most prestigious basketball tournament for the Under 14 and Under 12 age groups that is national in scope. And it’s only proper that all schools be given the chance to compete in a league of such stature. Our schools’ basketball programs are literally thirsting for action and they should be given the chance to do so.
We made it clear with the coaches that the thrust for now is not to determine the best school team in Cebu per se. While a champion will emerge at the end of the tournament, we’re here to look at the bigger picture, and that is to develop Cebu Basketball. And the starting point for all this will be with students of the SBP and Passerelle age groups who are to play for their respective schools.
We’re also out on a mission to provide a continuity linkage or what I’d like to call a “package” for schools with basketball programs from grade school to the collegiate level. I will always look up to the programs of the well-established schools in Manila, and will readily admit that we’re way behind them in this department. Many of today’s top basketball players are products of a program that started in the SBP level and which took them up to the Passerelle, Juniors (high school) and on to the collegiate and commercial levels. The likes of Enrico Villanueva, Joseph Yeo, TY Tang, Larry Fonacier and many others are the poster boys of this model, but we have yet to discover Cebu’s products from this set-up. With many of our teams also members of the CESAFI, it’s only logical that the linkage with them be created.
It’s all about giving everyone a chance to play and showing them that there is a path to take as they grow. More games will mean more opportunities to play. And more playtime will bring in development, maturity and growth in today’s players. This is what youth basketball is all about, regardless of the tournament’s sponsor or name.
It is our wish that our basketball fans, school/team owners and benefactors share in this thrust and also do their share in making things happen.
oOo
Time-out: Do I see another possible white elephant skywalk in the making? I don’t know but it sure looks like the skywalk in Jagobiao could become another…..>>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
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