UAAP-NCAA-CESAFI

With all the attention of the basketball world on FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, it’s also time to come back home, isn’t it? With the PBA on its off-season, Pinoy basketball these days are trained on the UAAP, NCAA and our very own CESAFI. These are the top three school-based leagues in the country, (bias is ours), and produce most of the top stars of the country.

When we were watching Gilas Pilipinas play in China, the play of CJ Perez and Robert Bolick drew the attention of fans and analysts. With us on the trip was Paul Supan, the athletic director of Jose Rizal University, who said that they have a Filipino tagline “Galing NCAA.” And so when Perez and Bolick would step up and deliver, he would immediately say, “Galing NCAA yan,” obviously using the two meanings of the word “galing” to describe the players. They both came from the NCAA and are also topnotch players. Galing, di ba? The NCAA is deep into its basketball season now while the UAAP and CESAFI just started their basketball tournaments. The NCAA will always be known somehow as the “other” league in Manila with the more popular UAAP standing out as the top collegiate league in the country. Did you know that Ateneo and La Salle were once part of the NCAA before they took their bags to the UAAP? They were part of the “glory days” of the 70s when rumbles and parking lot fights were common. Many have said that their transfer to the UAAP (bringing with them the storied blue-green rivalry) has made the UAAP the more popular league. But the irony is that the quality of play in the NCAA isn’t necessarily inferior to that of the UAAP, despite what other people say.

This perception that the UAAP is better is just that: a perception created by the excellent brand and marketing managers of the UAAP who have done a great job of building the image of the league with the big assist of ABS-CBN. The basketball that they play is at the same level even if UAAP players tend to be more popular than their NCAA counterparts. Big in the eyes of UAAP fans are the likes of Thirdy Ravena, Matt Nieto, Mike Nieto, Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero. Not to be outdone in the “idol” department are the Aljun Melecio, Andrei Caracut, Ildefonso brothers and Renzo Subido. Who among the NCAA players can you remember? In the coaching department, Tab Baldwin and Aldin Ayo are the most popular in the UAAP. As far as schools are concerned, Ateneo, La Salle, UST and UP will always be known as the “big four,” not only in sports but also in academics. Many parents would love to see their kids study in any of these schools. Not far behind are NU, Adamson, UE and FEU. Meanwhile, the NCAA has San Beda, Letran, San Sebastian, Lyceum, Arellano, Emilio Aguinaldo College of St. Benilde, University of Perpetual Help, Mapua and Jose Rizal University. The most popular would easily be San Beda and Letran. Boyet Fernandez and Topex Robinson are the most popular coaches while the NCAA’s most popular players are Evan Nelle, Calvin Oftana, Justin Gutang, Kent Salado, the Marcelino twins, John de los Santos, and Jerrick Balanza. Do you know them? All of them have become popular primarily due to TV. Their faces, moves and games are on TV at least twice a week, giving them as much exposure as those showbiz personalities. Yes, sports is also entertainment and now belongs to showbiz.

This leads me to our very own CESAFI. While we may be the third league in the country behind the UAAP and NCAA, we are sadly way, way behind. The gap has now widened not only in terms of popularity but also in competitive play. Ever since the UAAP and NCAA have been regular fixtures on TV, players from all over the country plot their careers with dreams of playing in Manila. We can’t blame them, can we? The UAAP and NCAA are flooded with talents from Batanes to Sulu and recruitment has expanded from high school to as young as thirteen year-olds fresh out of SBP or grade school basketball. Even coaches move to Manila where the action is.

This, however, hasn’t taken the fight out of the league. The CESAFI continues to produce talented players and games have been competitive and entertaining. SWU-PHINMA is seeking to prove that winning the CESAFI Partner’s Cup wasn’t a fluke. Meanwhile, UV is seeking a four-peat in a season that could revive the old Lancers-Cobras rivalry of the past. USPF has also been a pleasant surprise early in the season as UC continues to be dangerous. With USJR and USC also there, the fight for the Final Four slots is going to be tight and interesting. With games aired on Facebook Live, we hope the CESAFI gets to be known in more places and that more sponsors come in. Let’s not forget that June Mar Fajardo, the country’s most dominating player came from the CESAFI. I just hope that fans can automatically identify the MVP with the CESAFI so that it gives the league pogi/PR points. We’re also praying that the CESAFI step up, draw more fans, build school spirit and build the Cebu Basketball brand.