TNT Tropang Giga star Roger Ray Pogoy led the launching of the 2025 edition of the Congresswoman Rhea Gullas Cup last Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Osting Restaurant in Naga City, Cebu.
Pogoy, a former member of Gilas Pilipinas, expressed his gratitude to the grassroots basketball tournament, which he credited for helping launch his professional basketball career.
One of the most prominent alumni of the Gullas Cup, Pogoy said the tournament played a key role in his journey to the pros.
“In all my achievements, I will never forget the Gullas Cup. There wouldn’t be an RR Pogoy without this tournament,” said Pogoy, who represented Talisay City in the 2006 edition and led his team to the championship.
After his stint in the Gullas Cup, Pogoy briefly played for the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters before moving to Manila to chase his basketball dream. He has since become one of the most successful Cebuano players in the PBA.
Now a seasoned professional, Pogoy hopes to inspire young players from Cebu’s First District as they represent their local government units in this year’s Rhea Gullas Cup.
Dee J.P. Villanueva, the tournament’s chief organizer, described Pogoy as one of the best products of the Gullas Cup. He also cited other notable alumni, including Steve Nash Enriquez of National University, former UV Green Lancer and CESAFI MVP Jesiel Tarrosa, and current PBA player Brian Heruela.
Villanueva explained that the Gullas Cup shifted to a developmental format when it resumed in 2016 after a brief hiatus. They moved away from the open-commercial format and aligned the rules with those of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the Passerelle system.
“As we progressed, Mayor Samsam [Gullas], who was still the team manager of UV at that time, emphasized that the eligibility and rules of SBP and Passerelle are focused on development. So since then, the Gullas Cup has become purely developmental and limited to under-21 players. We really scrutinized the grassroots level. It is more meaningful if a player discovered in that league succeeds,” Villanueva said.
Aside from the under-21 basketball tournament, the Rhea Gullas Cup will also feature separate men’s and women’s volleyball competitions.
Additionally, the six LGUs in Cebu’s First District—Talisay City, Naga City, Carcar City, Sibonga, San Fernando, and Minglanilla—will host their own 12-under barangay-level basketball tournaments. The champions of each city will advance to the Gullas Cup’s 12-under division finals.
Villanueva also revealed plans to introduce women’s 3x3 or 5-on-5 basketball in future editions of the tournament. / JBM