Cebu in the Nationals
Bleacher Talk
November 29, 2009
Cebu in the Nationals
With the various school-based leagues around the country done with their 2009 local tournaments, it’s time to determine the best team in the land. The end of the year is appropriately the right time to bring together all the best teams from the north to the south for one big finale. Not to be outdone, Cebu is once again involved in all these activities, a reflection of how competitive our basketball scene is.
Over the past week, we’ve already had two major activities hugging the headlines. The national finals of the Milo-backed BEST SBP/Passerelle Twin Tournament was held in Baguio last weekend. Starting this week was the Sweet 16 round of the Philippine Collegiate Champions’ League (PCCL) in Manila. The regional eliminations prelude to the PCCL was held earlier. Also quietly taking place without making much noise is the start-up national Under 19 and Under 17 youth tournament of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP).
Fresh from representing the Visayas in the national finals of what is popularly known as the Milo BEST tournament is Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHSJ) which placed third in the Passerelle division (Under 15 years old). La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) won its second straight championship while Xavier University of Cagayan de Oro was second. The trip was a both a learning and painful experience for the Eagles whose two close losses (to LSGH & Xavier) came in overtime. They learned and experienced what coaches mean when they say that “the game isn’t over ‘til it’s over.” On a positive note, SHSJ learned that they could match up with Manila’s LSGH, a team that crushed them in the championship game last year. With more focus, consistency and composure, SHSJ could’ve turned things around, but that’s basketball. Things happen for a purpose and it just wasn’t really meant for the Eagles. Forgetting the past and looking forward to 2010 would be the most logical thing to do now.
At the collegiate level, UV is out to prove that its nine CESAFI trophies also deserve another one from a national-level tournament. The Lancers have reached as far as the Final Four, but that championship has been so elusive. UC and USC also made it to the Sweet 16 round through the regional qualifiers, proving that Cebu teams belong to the top of the collegiate circuit. No other place or league from the Vismin has representatives in the Sweet 16 round. Not a bad achievement at all. Now let’s see how far they go. UV played Mapua Institute of Technology yesterday, while University of Cebu (UC) faced off against UAAP runner-up University of the East (UE). University of San Carlos also has a tough first round assignment in NCAA champion San Sebastian Recoletos tomorrow in Ormoc. (Rico's update: Both UV & UC lost their Sweet 16 round games last Saturday, Nov. 28.)
The PCCL has proven that the best collegiate teams in the land can be made to play in a unified nationwide tournament to cap the collegiate season as long as it’s well managed and is run with the right objectives. It has also confirmed that the UAAP is the top collegiate league in the land. No other league has produced a Champions’ League champion outside of the UAAP. But I’m sure San Sebastian and San Beda are itching to carry the NCAA’s colors to the top. Over-all, while the PCCL is not yet as popular as the UAAP and NCAA, having the various champions gather for the tournament is already an achievement. I’d like to see this gathering of the best collegiate team become the ultimate tournament of collegiate season much in the same way that the US’s NCAA championship is THE tournament for all of collegiate basketball in the U.S. Whether or not the PCCL will achieve this feat is the million dollar question.
I’m not sure if you noticed, but also taking place is the Visayas Area Finals of the SBP National Juniors Championship. This is an inter-school tournament for two age groups: Under 19 and Under 17 years old. The winner of both age groups move up to the finals which I guess will be held in Manila. I can’t blame you if haven’t heard about this at all. It’s a brand new entry into the national-level school-based tournaments filling in the gap of the high school and early college age groups. While the PCCL takes care of the collegiate level and the Milo-BEST SBP/Passerelle tournament covers the Under 12 and Under 15 age groups, this latest tournament covers the ages in between 15 and 19. UV and USJR represent Cebu in the ongoing Visayas Finals.
It will be interesting to see how far this tournament will go. Offhand, it looks like it hasn’t attracted the top UAAP and NCAA teams to its fold as no mention of the UAAP’s Ateneo and La Salle or the NCAA’s San Beda or Letran has been made out of its Manila area tournament. If it wants to cover the Under 17 age group, they might want to run a Champions’ League type of a tournament for high schools, and get all the biggest leagues involved, i.e. UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, etc. It’s the easiest way to earn respect and credibility. But then again, it’s still new. Let’s see how it turns out this year.
That’s Cebu in the Nationals this year. We may not come out on top, but for as long as these tournaments are regular, we’ll get a championship soon.
oOo
Time-out: Let’s all continue praying for the recovery of Z “The Dream” Gorres and also help out in the raising of funds for the biggest fight of his life. >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com
November 29, 2009
Cebu in the Nationals
With the various school-based leagues around the country done with their 2009 local tournaments, it’s time to determine the best team in the land. The end of the year is appropriately the right time to bring together all the best teams from the north to the south for one big finale. Not to be outdone, Cebu is once again involved in all these activities, a reflection of how competitive our basketball scene is.
Over the past week, we’ve already had two major activities hugging the headlines. The national finals of the Milo-backed BEST SBP/Passerelle Twin Tournament was held in Baguio last weekend. Starting this week was the Sweet 16 round of the Philippine Collegiate Champions’ League (PCCL) in Manila. The regional eliminations prelude to the PCCL was held earlier. Also quietly taking place without making much noise is the start-up national Under 19 and Under 17 youth tournament of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP).
Fresh from representing the Visayas in the national finals of what is popularly known as the Milo BEST tournament is Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHSJ) which placed third in the Passerelle division (Under 15 years old). La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) won its second straight championship while Xavier University of Cagayan de Oro was second. The trip was a both a learning and painful experience for the Eagles whose two close losses (to LSGH & Xavier) came in overtime. They learned and experienced what coaches mean when they say that “the game isn’t over ‘til it’s over.” On a positive note, SHSJ learned that they could match up with Manila’s LSGH, a team that crushed them in the championship game last year. With more focus, consistency and composure, SHSJ could’ve turned things around, but that’s basketball. Things happen for a purpose and it just wasn’t really meant for the Eagles. Forgetting the past and looking forward to 2010 would be the most logical thing to do now.
At the collegiate level, UV is out to prove that its nine CESAFI trophies also deserve another one from a national-level tournament. The Lancers have reached as far as the Final Four, but that championship has been so elusive. UC and USC also made it to the Sweet 16 round through the regional qualifiers, proving that Cebu teams belong to the top of the collegiate circuit. No other place or league from the Vismin has representatives in the Sweet 16 round. Not a bad achievement at all. Now let’s see how far they go. UV played Mapua Institute of Technology yesterday, while University of Cebu (UC) faced off against UAAP runner-up University of the East (UE). University of San Carlos also has a tough first round assignment in NCAA champion San Sebastian Recoletos tomorrow in Ormoc. (Rico's update: Both UV & UC lost their Sweet 16 round games last Saturday, Nov. 28.)
The PCCL has proven that the best collegiate teams in the land can be made to play in a unified nationwide tournament to cap the collegiate season as long as it’s well managed and is run with the right objectives. It has also confirmed that the UAAP is the top collegiate league in the land. No other league has produced a Champions’ League champion outside of the UAAP. But I’m sure San Sebastian and San Beda are itching to carry the NCAA’s colors to the top. Over-all, while the PCCL is not yet as popular as the UAAP and NCAA, having the various champions gather for the tournament is already an achievement. I’d like to see this gathering of the best collegiate team become the ultimate tournament of collegiate season much in the same way that the US’s NCAA championship is THE tournament for all of collegiate basketball in the U.S. Whether or not the PCCL will achieve this feat is the million dollar question.
I’m not sure if you noticed, but also taking place is the Visayas Area Finals of the SBP National Juniors Championship. This is an inter-school tournament for two age groups: Under 19 and Under 17 years old. The winner of both age groups move up to the finals which I guess will be held in Manila. I can’t blame you if haven’t heard about this at all. It’s a brand new entry into the national-level school-based tournaments filling in the gap of the high school and early college age groups. While the PCCL takes care of the collegiate level and the Milo-BEST SBP/Passerelle tournament covers the Under 12 and Under 15 age groups, this latest tournament covers the ages in between 15 and 19. UV and USJR represent Cebu in the ongoing Visayas Finals.
It will be interesting to see how far this tournament will go. Offhand, it looks like it hasn’t attracted the top UAAP and NCAA teams to its fold as no mention of the UAAP’s Ateneo and La Salle or the NCAA’s San Beda or Letran has been made out of its Manila area tournament. If it wants to cover the Under 17 age group, they might want to run a Champions’ League type of a tournament for high schools, and get all the biggest leagues involved, i.e. UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, etc. It’s the easiest way to earn respect and credibility. But then again, it’s still new. Let’s see how it turns out this year.
That’s Cebu in the Nationals this year. We may not come out on top, but for as long as these tournaments are regular, we’ll get a championship soon.
oOo
Time-out: Let’s all continue praying for the recovery of Z “The Dream” Gorres and also help out in the raising of funds for the biggest fight of his life. >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com
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