Bleacher Talk

With 113 teams and their supporters flocking the Magis Eagles Arena, the MVPSF Youth Basketball League-Cebu (MYBL-Cebu) kicked off with a bang through a memorable opening ceremony, a friendly game and a kick-off day of eight games Sunday. The SHS-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles eked out a 65-62 win over Punta Alas in the Under-18 Division 1A. Aaron Abunawan and Uri Avila led the way for the Magis Eagles with 17 points each, with Avila adding six rebounds, six assists and eight steals. Aldrich Alvez also chipped in 14 points for the Magis Eagles. James Cabingatan and Joshua Canoy led Punta Alas with 23 and 22 points, respectively. Meanwhile, in the Under-18 Division 1B, the SMS-Boystown destroyed the University of the Visayas Pardo A by a whopping 100 points, 125-25. Ryan Dizo led four players in double-figures for Boystown as he had 28 points and 10 rebounds while C-Jay Gonzales added 26 markers, five boards, five assists and three steals. In the Under-18 Division 2, Venom walloped Ei...

Pledge of Unity among the different participants of the MYBL-Cebu: CJay Gonzales (players' representative), Jigjig Lascona (referees' representative), RR Pogoy (CYBL alumnus), Ryan Gregorio (MVSPF) , Butch Antonio (SBP), Police Chief MSGT Mary Jean Tigmo (parents' representative),  Gab Najarro (coaches' representative) & Atty. Jang Moreno (MVPSF).  CYBL Season 12 = MYBL CYBL. I can still recall that first meeting that launched the Cebu Youth Basketball League way back in 2008. It was at the admin office of the Mandaue City Sports Complex when a handful of coaches and this bleacher bum agreed to put up a basketball tournament for the second semester of the school-year 2007-2008 for the Under 15 and 12 age groups. At that time, there was only one tournament for these age groups, and this was held in the first semester. Without much basketball activity to do in the second semester, the obvious was just that: obvious. And so we launched the ...

Pleasant Reminders from Yulo and Petecio When Gilas Pilipinas crashed out of the FIBA Basketball World Cup without winning a single game, bashers came out with guns ablazing. “Why do you support only basketball,” they asked. “Support other sports!” they screamed. While bashers were at it, some were even more daring to “advise” MVP to throw his support behind sports aside from basketball. The general consensus was that MVP supported only basketball and nothing else. True or false? With social media and the traditional media partly to blame, it did appear that MVP didn’t support any other sport. After all, he does have three teams in the PBA and supports at least a team each in UAAP an NCAA college basketball. But is it his fault that basketball is the top sport in the land that draws the largest audiences, markets and following? Around a month or so after the FIBA debacle, two athletes stood out and won world championships in different sports. Take a bow, Nesthy Petecio f...

Cebu Basketball on National TV In chats and meetings that we’ve had with basketball enthusiasts/fans from Manila, we all agree than talents abound in the probinsya and they’re good enough to play in Manila. What they lack are the much-needed breaks and exposure. As they play in the local leagues, not too many coaches and scouts see them unless they make it to the finals of tournaments like the CESAFI, CVIRAA, NBTC and SBP-Passerelle tournaments. But when they are brought to Manila, they step up, create an impact and make Cebu Basketball proud. Making it to the Manila scene is already an achievement of sorts, thus I’m not too hard on others who may not be making as much impact as others One of the biggest names out of Cebu who is making noise is ex-UV Lancer and CESAFI MVP Rey Suerte. He is playing for UE in the UAAP on a one-and-done arrangement since he’s still eligible to play in the league even after playing in the CESAFI. He leads UE in statistics and is a candidate for ...