Summer, Goodwill & Games

In sports, the summer is always meant for just that: sports. But coupled with initiative, unity and a common drive for the sport, goodwill and games are always part and parcel of a summer sports program. And what better way than to simply do it. Play games, create goodwill and grow.

All this and more were experienced by some 19 basketball teams from Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Iloilo and Cebu at the CYBL Summer Goodwill Games held at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC). It all started when SHS-AdC’s teams would make trips to Bacolod for a series of friendly games every summer. It was a simple barnstorming trip with no major tournaments or trophies to chase. They went out visited Bacolod schools, played against them and had fun while away from home. Over a cup of coffee, some Bacolod parents discussed with the Cebu side the possibility of them returning the favor. There was a common wish for a more expanded tournament as compared to the Visayas Regional Finals of the Milo-backed BEST SBP Passerelle Tournament which could only accommodate one team from each major Visayas city. Thus in 2011, the first Cebu-Bacolod Goodwill Games took place with four participating teams in the Under 12 age group: St. John’s Institute of Bacolod, University of San Carlos, Cebu Eastern College and SHS-AdC. After everyone agreed that they all had fun, it was unanimous that it had to be done again (and expanded) the following year. So in 2012, the CYBL VISMIN Goodwill Games took place with eight Under 12 teams and five Under 15 squads. SJI, Ateneo de Iloilo, Ateneo de Davao and Assumption School of Davao arrived to compete against CYBL teams. From the Cebu side, Don Bosco was the addition to the cast along with pioneers USC, CEC and SHS-AdC.

The 2013 edition has been the biggest so far. There are now 11 teams in the SBP division with the Cebu cast adding the likes of St. Benedict’s Child Learning Center, University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) and University of the Visayas (UV). SJI and AdI are back along with the NOODA Warriors club of Bacolod. Xavier University/Ateneo de Cagayan also made the trip for full-scale tournament. The Passerelle division expanded to eight teams including two Don Bosco squads and USJR. SJI joined the Passerelle division this year after playing in only the SBP division the past two years. Due to the four-day period and the number of teams playing, games are played all day, with teams playing two games per day. All teams were playing, eating, and sleeping basketball intensely from Wednesday to yesterday.

At the end of the day, the goodwill games weren’t designed to come up with a champion in a tournament sense of the word. It was all about having fun, making friends, gaining the much needed exposure and preparing for the upcoming, more important tournaments up ahead in the coming schoolyear. Sure, a champion was crowned, but this isn’t a guaranty that a pre-season title automatically produces a regular season champ. Go ask Coach Eric at NU and you’ll know what I mean.

So who’s to “blame” for all this? They’re all solid basketball fans who have the common desire for everyone to improve. Bacolod businessman Alex Lim initiated the talks and so after a couple of MILO BEST Regionals and Nationals, and a heavy dose of texts, emails and phone calls, here we are two years after that initial cup of coffee. We’re also grateful for the solid backing of sports directors and heads like Cong. Samsam Gullas, Saturn Mayormita, Sammy Sia, Jo-an Tenorio of AdI, Wilt Naliponguit of XU and Fr. Manny Uy of SHS-Ateneo de Cebu. I’ll also have to add William “Butch” Ramirez of Ateneo de Davao (who promised to join the 2104 edition after missing this year’s).

So what’s next for the group? Will Manila teams finally join us? Maybe not, but we’ll respect them. Don’t look now, but we could be talking about teams from Guam, Hong Kong and Singapore. Goodwill get better. 

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Time-out: Happy birthday to Coach Boy Cabahug and Jane Canoy! >>> You can reach me at [email protected].