CEBU will host the 2007 National Students Basketball Championship for the first time since 1996 and it will draw top schools in the country.
This was promised by BAP-SBP Cebu director Lorenzo “Chao” Sy.
“I was successful in my bid for the hosting of the NSBC and it will be a huge event in Cebu next year. From Feb. 24 to March 5, this will help heat up Cebu basketball arena back to the highest level,” Sy told reporters.
Tournament
Sy was supposed to hold the Hotel Fortuna Cup 2 for Cebu collegiate teams from Jan. 9 to 13, instead, it will become a zonal tournament for the Central Visayas for the right to play in the national tournament.
“I was hoping that all of the Cesafi teams will join the tournament because this is all about playing for our turf. I was assured that UAAP schools like De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, University of the East and schools from the NCAA like Letran, San Beda among others,” Sy, who is also the BAP-7 regional director, added.
Attempt
Since 1996, Cebu officials have attempted to host the annual students’ basketball tournament, to no avail.
Southwestern University won the National Inter-Collegiate title back then, beating its arch-rivals University of the Visayas Green Lancers in the finals.
The following year, UV won the national title in Dipolog City.
Since then, Cebu was denied of a national inter-collegiate basketball title and Sy hopes that bringing the tournament here would give chances to a Cebu school to win the title.
In the past BAP-organized NSBC usually attracts more than 50 schools competing in the high school, collegiate and women’s titles.
Sy, however, is looking to host more than 50 schools since Cebu is the most strategic place. (RCM)
