We’re past the middle of the first month of the summer break and believe it or not, it’s been a quiet summer in the local basketball scene. I’m sure you all give us that expression that goes along with “Huh?”, but let me clarify things.
When we say quiet, we’re not referring to all the summer clinics that are already ongoing in the different schools and basketball camps spread out all over the province. In fact, that’s the good news and sign about the basketball family. But if you look deeper into the situation, haven’t you noticed anything missing?
Where are the usual summer tournaments for Cebu’s top leagues and teams? Where are Cebu’s top teams playing these days? Aren’t the CESAFI teams even thinking about tune-up games or tournaments for their squads to prepare for what is expected to be another big CESAFI basketball season? Are Cebu’s local commercial teams completely drained out that they can no longer afford to play in or host a tournament? I have to admit that this isn’t a good sign of things for the local basketball world. If Cebu is filled with just clinics and nothing else, something is terribly wrong.
Looking at the Manila situation may help us shed light to see what we mean. The summer in Manila doesn’t mean vacation for the basketball family. On the contrary, it means more work for the highest levels of basketball. Ongoing these days are the games of the PBA, PBL and the pre-season tournaments for collegiate basketball. The top echelon of basketball is covered three-of-three.
For Cebu, we don’t have games featuring our best teams and players. Gone are the days when the months of April and May were blocked out for what was known as the summer league or conferences of the local commercial leagues of the past: CABA, CABL, CBL, CBF, MICAA, etc.
Filling up the summer for basketball are the different local leagues of the various local towns, and barangays. If you’re looking for exciting basketball action in this department, the inter-barangay summer league of Mandaue might be the highest level of basketball for now. The league features the likes of Boy Cabahug, Al Solis and Gilbert Demape playing for their Mandaue-based barangays, playing alongside many former commercial and collegiate players. I heard that the Mandaue Sports Complex is packed almost every night with Game 1 of the championship series played last night.
I’m afraid that’s about it. I haven’t heard of a pre-season tournament for CESAFI teams. Nor have we heard about the MVBA doing a summer tournament as it prepares for the upcoming Liga Pilipinas. It has been reported that the Liga Pilipinas, the merger league of the NBC and MVBA will kick off on May 23, but that’s a little too late to be called a summer league. Moreover, the league is designed to run through practically the rest of the year.
One of the things that really impress us is how the Manila collegiate scene takes the summer so seriously. In Manila, the UAAP and NCAA teams are using the off-season to prepare for their upcoming 2008 tournaments. Many of the collegiate leagues’ teams are now buckling down to get into fighting shape with Spartan-like practice sessions. They’re also playing in a pre-season tournament that’s designed to assess how far the team has developed through the summer, and to establish chemistry among the veterans and rookies. New plays and gimmicks are tested at actual games where rookies get as much, if not more playing time than the veterans. At the end of the day (summer actually), coaches will be able to make a good assessment of the team, and will make the necessary adjustments and fine tuning just in time to prepare for the real wars up ahead.
So what gives, Cebu ? Is the summer break just that: a break from basketball where everyone is just kicking back and enjoying the sun and sand? Now I know why we can’t seem to keep up with the big city in terms of basketball development. And the summer is one glaring case study of this phenomenon. While we’re busy kicking back, the big city is humming with tournaments and games, and leaving us behind.
Summer action anyone?
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Time-out: The Milo Best Center basketball clinic will be held from May 5-10 at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit gym along Mango Ave. For more details, you can call telephone numbers 516-9036, 0918-939-4846, 0923-342-8913, or email to bleachertalk@yahoo.com.