Tuesday, February 06, 2007 Cebu players eye bigger role
BASKETBALL players from the south, particularly Cebuanos, are awaiting all out support and attention from the new basketball federation.
In yesterday’s Unity Congress at the Dusit Hotel in Makati, Cebu basketball luminaries achieved their purpose in joining the unified group – to ensure that Cebuano players and leagues will be heard and given attention by their counterparts in Manila.
Assurance
“We were assured that the (BAP-SBP) will give their full support to the Cebuano and southern players,” said multi-titled coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, who was elected as one of the member of the 25-man board of trustees along with sports patron Michel Lhuillier and University of the Visayas Green Lancers coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug.
According to Alcoseba, the new group will release funds for the holding of tournaments to the south for both commercial and school-based tournaments.
Lhuillier and Alcoseba’s brainchild projects —the commercial league Mindanao-Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) and the school-based Visayas Amateur Athletic Association (VAAA)—are now recognized as stakeholders of the new federation, which the unity congress agreed to call the BAP-SBP.
Recognition
“This way we can maximize our resources both financial and man power, where now we can expect a Cebu team or any southern team can now see action in international tournaments. Our players as well, can now get the chance to be recognized by teams in Manila, without leaving their respective places,” added Alcoseba.
Among the proposals of Alcoseba to the SBP is to hold the annual champions league not just in Manila but in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao alternately.
“Hopefully, they would also reconsider this because this is one way to attract players to thrive hard,” he added. (RCM)
