FORMER PBA player Robert Labagala lauded the discipline shown by the Sisters of Mary Schools (SMS) Boystown and Girlstown students in the inaugural Aloysian Sports Grassroots Invitational Tournament.
“We came here to gain experience and exposure in basketball, but we got more. We learned life lessons from these students,” Labagala told SunStar Cebu in a telephone interview on Sunday, May 19.
The 34-year-old Talisay City-native, who played for Ginebra, Barako Bull Energy and Talk ‘N Text , brought the Under-17 Passion Sports Manila here to play in the Aloysian Invitational.
“The life stories that we learned from the kids are really inspiring. My players have realized how blessed they are with what they have,” he said.
Labagala, an assistant coach for the University of the East Red Warriors, said what impressed him the most was the discipline of the SMS grassroots students.
“The kind of discipline that I see here is what I want to input to my players (Passion Sports Manila),” he said.
Passion Sports Manila will play the final phase of the Under-17 basketball competition on Monday, May 20, after topping Bracket A with a 4-0 record.
Joining them in the round-robin finals are the Minglanilla Archangels and NBTC Division B champion Pinamungajan. The team with the most wins in the round-robin championship will get the title.
Passion Manila defeated the Boystown Passerelle, 59-49, in their last game of the elimination round on Saturday, May 18.
Labagala also said the SMS grassroots program is good for the players.
“There are potential players and considering the volume of athletes, it’s really possible to develop players here. The question only is the consistency of the program. But the way I see it, they’re in the right direction. We might not see the results now, it will come out in the coming years,” said Labagala.
The meet, organized by SMS and supported by the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission, will wrap up today. (RSC)