FOR a basketball-mad country with numerous school-based leagues all over the regions, a tournament like the Philippine Collegiate Champions League should be a big success. It’s a no-brainer, right? A tournament pitting the best schools to determine who can be truly be called the country’s best collegiate basketball team?
But it’s not. Heck, some schools don’t even bother fielding their best teams in the PCCL, whose concept of Philippines seem to be limited to “Manila” only.
Consider what they did to the University of the Visayas recently. Years after insulting the Cebu champions with shabby treatment in Manila, the PCCL insulted UV anew this year by telling them that “if you want to join us, go pay for your own fare in the Davao elims, and if you win, go pay for your own trip to Manila.”
UV team manager Samsam Gullas, naturally, went livid, lashing out at the PCCL for its unfair treatment of teams outside of Manila.
When the Philippine Football Federation used to hold a national tournament pitting champions from various regions, it shouldered not only the transpo of the teams but also their accommodation. Heck, they even included referees from the regions as well (of course, they don’t get to call games involving their teams). That’s from an organization that doesn’t have earnings from TV exposure.
Samsam is right. Why punish the teams outside Manila who look forward to joining the PCCL and favor the Manila teams, who can even afford to have training camps outside the country?
Also, if the PCCL final four or sweet 16—or whatever banana they call their ever changing format now—is held in Cebu or Davao or Bacolod, expect a packed venue.
If UV pushes through with its plan to skip this year’s tournament, I think the Cebu community will back the team. This shabby treatment is an insult not only to the school but to Cebu basketball.
Also, I hope the people behind the PCCL realize that if it wants its tournament to have the prestige it deserves, then it has to give the different champions of Philippine college basketball the respect they deserve.
One more thing, there’s no PCCL for volleyball and football, perhaps they’d also consider expanding their scope. I guarantee you, such tournament will be a major hit. (Just don’t ask the different champions to pay their own way to the qualifiers)