BEST SBP Passerelle Nat’l Finals kicks off

CEBU, Philippines -  It will be a tight battle for supremacy as champions from the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao slug it out in the National Finals of the BEST SBP Passerelle tournament today at the Magis Eagles Arena of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in Canduman, Mandaue City.

The country’s best under-15 (Passerelle) and under-12 (SBP) cagers will gather in the two-day tournament sponsored by Milo.

“It’s everybody’s ball game because every team is competitive. Nakikita ko talaga ngayun na lahat nang teams ay malalakas,” said Nic Jorge, founder and president of BEST (Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training) during a press conference yesterday at the Sarrosa International Hotel and Residential Suites.

Clashing in the SBP category are NCR’s Xavier School, Berkeley School representing Luzon, Ateneo de Iloilo, and Mindanao’s Bukidnon Faith Christian School, Inc.

In the Passerelle division, it will be a tough competition among defending champion Chiang Kai Shek College of NCR, Holy Child College of Davao, Luzon’s Holy Angel University and University of the Visayas.

They will take on each other following a single round robin format in the elimination. The two highest ranked teams will automatically advance into the finals, while the No.3 and 4 will fight for third place.

Trophies and medals will given away to the winners and top individual performers in each division.

The national finals of the SBP Passerelle tournament is the year-ending tournament that saw provincial championships played in 12 different areas.

The Luzon areas are Baguio, Pangasinan, Lucena and Pampanga. The Mindanao is composed of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and Zamboanga. The Visayas Region is composed of Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod and Roxas. Metro Manila is considered as one region by itself.

The tournament is now on its 29th edition and has produced many of today’s top players in both the professional and collegiate leagues. From Cebu alone, products of the SBP Passerelle tournament include national youth players Paul Desiderio, Henry Asilum, Dave Yu, Leonard Santillan, Arnie Padilla and Dawn Ochea.

Many of today’s players in the UAAP, NCAA and CESAFI also played in the SBP Passerelle tournament during their younger years. The most prominent faces today are BEST graduates and poster boys Kiefer Ravena, Thirdy Ravena, Jeron Teng and Chris Tiu. (FREEMAN)