CESAFI Juniors 2009
Bleacher Talk
August 9, 2009
CESAFI Juniors 2009
Each time people talk about the CESAFI basketball tournament, it’s automatic that college basketball will be the top-of-mind topic. Talk will always be about UV’s quest for a ninth straight title, UC’s legitimate chance of making it all the way this year, and how Coach Itoy Salacut will pull some surprises at USJR despite losing half of his team from last year. Moreover, Greg Slaughter and June Mar Fajardo will be hands-down the most talked about players in what is seen as a showdown between two of the country’s best big men. But is that everything about CESAFI Basketball?
Definitely not, and it’s our task today to invite all to also look into our “bias” in the local basketball scene. We always talk about college ball, but does anyone talk about youth basketball? Let’s put it this way. Everything has to start somewhere and college ball wouldn’t be where it is today without its roots in youth basketball. The sad part is that high school basketball doesn’t get as much following as the college scene. And so we see it just as important to talk about high school and other age-group basketball activities that have now become very much a part of Cebu Basketball.
CESAFI high school basketball features nine teams this year, with defending champions UC and perennial power UV as title favorites (again). So what else is new? The consensus among local fans is that the championship is already a foregone conclusion with UC or UV a cure cinch to win it, with the real battle actually a fight for third place among all the other teams. Right behind UV and UC are CIT, USJR, USC, USPF, CEC, Don Bosco and Sacred Heart School Jesuit (SHSJ) (not in any particular order). Expected to give the top two teams a little bit of a scare (just in case complacency sets in) are CIT, USJR, USC and even SHSJ. Of the lot, only CEC and SHSJ don’t have counterpart collegiate teams since they don’t offer have college education.
The age limit for CESAFI’s high school division is 17 years old or younger. Players must not yet be 18 years old when the tournament starts. A cut off date for when someone turns 18 is usually set every year. Players can play for a total of four playing years, spread over five years after his grade school graduation. A common sight in all schools is that many players are only 14 to 16 years old. This is a means to give them the much needed exposure and experience to prepare for the bigger wars up ahead.
Recruitment. I have always been impressed at the way UV and UC recruit players since they don’t have age group programs in their high school and grade school. While their players are from Cebu, many on the team come from other towns in the Vismin. UC’s program is similar to that of UV with their recruitment network spreading to beyond the shores of Cebu. This is primarily why both teams are so strong. They get to pick the best from other places and put them together in one team. All the other schools rely on home-grown talents with the addition of their own recruits from other schools in and out of Cebu. The top schools offer scholarships for their players, but the rest can’t afford to do the same. Some offer discounts on scholarships, while many players still pay the full tuition fees of regular students.
With a CESAFI high school age limit of 17 years old, the schools with 17-year old seniors are always in a better position to win. The private religious-run schools usually have 16-year old seniors since their students enter high school at 13. It is common knowledge that top basketball prospects sometimes “hold back” a year so as to maximize their stay in high school basketball. They usually repeat their sophomore or junior years so they stay in school longer but still remain within the age limit of 17. Ground rules though, indicate that a player can’t stay forever in high school, thanks to the rule that one can play only within five years after his grade school graduation.
As a means to prepare for the CESAFI wars, many schools have age group programs that go all the way down to the grade school level where kids start playing as early as eight years old. Of the nine schools, six are regular fixtures in the age group basketball tournaments that are held all-year round. UC, CIT, USC, USPF, Don Bosco and Sacred Heart School Jesuit play in the Milo BEST SBP/Passerelle tournament, the Futures Basketball League (FBL) and the Cebu Youth Basketball League (CYBL). USJR just recently started playing in the FBL, while CEC has indicated that they’ll be busier this year. They also join the various tournaments organized by local barangays and private individuals or firms every now and then.
Like their college counterparts, the high school division also has its share of popular players. CIT’s 15-year old Mark Jayven Tallo was the MVP last year who also joined the Philippine delegation to the Jr. NBA camp in the U.S. Players to check out this year are Clent Muñez (USJR), Alvin Labolabo (UC), Gerald Ampo-on (UC), Oscar Pua (UC), Alfred Codilla (UC), Jorei Pingoy (UC), Edcor Marata (UV), Clyvin Limalima (CIT), Jerry Jan Seno (SHSJ) and Jed Rama (SHSJ). I’m sure there are more players worth keeping an eye on as I might have missed out on some. But the bottom line is that youth basketball is very much alive and full of talents.
So the next time you see the CESAFI sked in the local news, don’t just look at the main games, find time to watch the preliminary games of high school ball. Collegiate ball will still be the main show, but it’s time to open up, broaden our horizons, and welcome the future of Cebu Basketball into our world. You’ll see that they’re all worth it.
oOo
Time-out: Happy birthday to Ryan Benson Tan. >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
August 9, 2009
CESAFI Juniors 2009
Each time people talk about the CESAFI basketball tournament, it’s automatic that college basketball will be the top-of-mind topic. Talk will always be about UV’s quest for a ninth straight title, UC’s legitimate chance of making it all the way this year, and how Coach Itoy Salacut will pull some surprises at USJR despite losing half of his team from last year. Moreover, Greg Slaughter and June Mar Fajardo will be hands-down the most talked about players in what is seen as a showdown between two of the country’s best big men. But is that everything about CESAFI Basketball?
Definitely not, and it’s our task today to invite all to also look into our “bias” in the local basketball scene. We always talk about college ball, but does anyone talk about youth basketball? Let’s put it this way. Everything has to start somewhere and college ball wouldn’t be where it is today without its roots in youth basketball. The sad part is that high school basketball doesn’t get as much following as the college scene. And so we see it just as important to talk about high school and other age-group basketball activities that have now become very much a part of Cebu Basketball.
CESAFI high school basketball features nine teams this year, with defending champions UC and perennial power UV as title favorites (again). So what else is new? The consensus among local fans is that the championship is already a foregone conclusion with UC or UV a cure cinch to win it, with the real battle actually a fight for third place among all the other teams. Right behind UV and UC are CIT, USJR, USC, USPF, CEC, Don Bosco and Sacred Heart School Jesuit (SHSJ) (not in any particular order). Expected to give the top two teams a little bit of a scare (just in case complacency sets in) are CIT, USJR, USC and even SHSJ. Of the lot, only CEC and SHSJ don’t have counterpart collegiate teams since they don’t offer have college education.
The age limit for CESAFI’s high school division is 17 years old or younger. Players must not yet be 18 years old when the tournament starts. A cut off date for when someone turns 18 is usually set every year. Players can play for a total of four playing years, spread over five years after his grade school graduation. A common sight in all schools is that many players are only 14 to 16 years old. This is a means to give them the much needed exposure and experience to prepare for the bigger wars up ahead.
Recruitment. I have always been impressed at the way UV and UC recruit players since they don’t have age group programs in their high school and grade school. While their players are from Cebu, many on the team come from other towns in the Vismin. UC’s program is similar to that of UV with their recruitment network spreading to beyond the shores of Cebu. This is primarily why both teams are so strong. They get to pick the best from other places and put them together in one team. All the other schools rely on home-grown talents with the addition of their own recruits from other schools in and out of Cebu. The top schools offer scholarships for their players, but the rest can’t afford to do the same. Some offer discounts on scholarships, while many players still pay the full tuition fees of regular students.
With a CESAFI high school age limit of 17 years old, the schools with 17-year old seniors are always in a better position to win. The private religious-run schools usually have 16-year old seniors since their students enter high school at 13. It is common knowledge that top basketball prospects sometimes “hold back” a year so as to maximize their stay in high school basketball. They usually repeat their sophomore or junior years so they stay in school longer but still remain within the age limit of 17. Ground rules though, indicate that a player can’t stay forever in high school, thanks to the rule that one can play only within five years after his grade school graduation.
As a means to prepare for the CESAFI wars, many schools have age group programs that go all the way down to the grade school level where kids start playing as early as eight years old. Of the nine schools, six are regular fixtures in the age group basketball tournaments that are held all-year round. UC, CIT, USC, USPF, Don Bosco and Sacred Heart School Jesuit play in the Milo BEST SBP/Passerelle tournament, the Futures Basketball League (FBL) and the Cebu Youth Basketball League (CYBL). USJR just recently started playing in the FBL, while CEC has indicated that they’ll be busier this year. They also join the various tournaments organized by local barangays and private individuals or firms every now and then.
Like their college counterparts, the high school division also has its share of popular players. CIT’s 15-year old Mark Jayven Tallo was the MVP last year who also joined the Philippine delegation to the Jr. NBA camp in the U.S. Players to check out this year are Clent Muñez (USJR), Alvin Labolabo (UC), Gerald Ampo-on (UC), Oscar Pua (UC), Alfred Codilla (UC), Jorei Pingoy (UC), Edcor Marata (UV), Clyvin Limalima (CIT), Jerry Jan Seno (SHSJ) and Jed Rama (SHSJ). I’m sure there are more players worth keeping an eye on as I might have missed out on some. But the bottom line is that youth basketball is very much alive and full of talents.
So the next time you see the CESAFI sked in the local news, don’t just look at the main games, find time to watch the preliminary games of high school ball. Collegiate ball will still be the main show, but it’s time to open up, broaden our horizons, and welcome the future of Cebu Basketball into our world. You’ll see that they’re all worth it.
oOo
Time-out: Happy birthday to Ryan Benson Tan. >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
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