The league of the future

You’ve seen it before, and tried to look away. A young child, still too frail and unskilled to win at his father’s favorite sport, sitting on the bench, tears brimming his eyes, unable to look around, afraid to see what may be revealed by parents’ eyes. Just behind the bench, the sulking Dad, stewing in his disappointment, or worse, yelling and screaming at his shattered kid.

Now, there will be a basketball league that can help prepare boys and girls for the challenges and pressures of live competition. It’s called the Futures Basketball League (FBL).

"Sports can be very traumatic for a child, particularly if the child has no prior experience in actual competition," says Dondell Pasion of Britton Distributions, Inc., maker of Primovit, the growth vitamin that will sponsor the FBL. Pasion knows what he speaks of, since two of his sons have been basketball players themselves. "We’ve seen many children get frustrated and hurt by not being ready for tournament play, and we want to help prepare and protect them, so they don’t give up on their dreams."

"The Futures Basketball League’s mission has been set up to address the need for a developmental grassroots basketball and sports league that the whole family can enjoy, and will tap and enhance the talents of our future basketball stars," declares organizer and former Barangay Ginebra team manager Niño Sinco. "Leagues for kids only run during the summer. So this will also prepare them so they aren’t shocked by the pressures of competing."

The FBL will have three divisions: Mini (for boys eight to 10 years old), Midget (boys 11 to 13) and a girls’ division for players 13 years and under. A twist is that the league will be giving Most Valuable Player awards for every age, from eight upwards, to reward kids of every age level.

As of this writing, 26 schools have already signed up, obviously seeing the value in joining a safe, kid-friendly tournament: Ateneo De Manila, De La Salle Greenhills, San Beda College, St. Jude, La Salle Zobel, San Beda Alabang, St. Anthony, Aquinas, Corpus Christi, Faith Christian, Claret, Xavier, Don Bosco Makati, Don Bosco Mandaluyong, Trinity, Jubilee Christian, La Salle Antipolo, Faith Academy, STI, St. Andrews, Lourdes Mandaluyong, Lourdes QC, Marist, UPIS, Dayspring. There are also several girls’ schools that have signed up. The tournament runs from November 19 (opening is at the Meralco Gym) and runs up to mid-January of 2006. Highlights of all the games will be shown locally on The Basketball Show’s primetime telecasts over IBC-13 every Monday, and will be replayed overseas via The Filipino Channel the following week.

There is also another reason why Pasion and Sinco are very passionate about the FBL.

"We’ve seen the big disparity in the physical development of children, particularly those between the ages of 11 and 12," Pasion explains. "Our product, Primovit, can help close the gap, and ease the emotional stress that children of that age feel, since basketball is an inescapable passion of the Filipino."

Primovit, which is out on the market, boasts of Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF). Chlorella provides a wide array of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, as well as being the highest-known source of chlorophyll. And while these are all beneficial, the greatest value of chlorella lies in CGF.

Researchers have discovered that CGF is produced during the intense photosynthesis that enables chlorella to grow so fast. At this stage, each cell multiplies into four new cells about every 20 hours, and CGF promotes this astonishing rate of reproduction. Results from experiments with microorganisms, animals and children have shown that CGF promotes faster than normal growth without adverse side effects, since its ingredients are all natural. In adults, it appears to enhance bodily functions responsible for production of proteins, enzymes and energy at the cellular level, stimulating tissue repair and protecting cells against some toxic substances. Since people have been known to keep growing until the age of about 22, vitamins like Primovit will help boost not only height, but overall health, as well. Primovit has also incorporated other elements that help brain development, as well.

"We hope that, in this way, we will also be able to help kids reach their full potential, both physically and mentally," Pasion adds.

The FBL also has some noteworthy personalities behind its organization. Commissioner for the FBL is present UAAP and NCAA deputy commissioner Ramil Cruz. The technical committee is made up of coaches Ricky Dandan, John Flores and Jay Salvador, who run the basketball school at the Ateneo de Manila campus.

Incidentally, since the FBL is definitely family-oriented, there will be an FBL Family Fun Day in the middle of the season. Fun games for the teams and their families will be held to foster the family spirit, camaraderie and fellowship among all those involved.

"That’s what this is all about," adds Sinco, whose son is also a promising young basketball player. "We want to give family members something back for all their support, and let them see how wholesome this event is, and also to thank our sponsors for backing up this project, which we hope will touch a lot of kids, and allow them to keep dreaming.

It looks like the FBL has all the bases covered.

For more information on the Futures Basketball League, call the FBL Secretariat at 411-5065 or fax them through 410-1391. The league’s coordinator is Glenn De Leon (0915-5948303). The FBL is at 138-D West Avenue, Quezon City.

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The UAAP Finals and Barangay Ginebra Kings are on this week’s episode of The Basketball Show at 9 p.m. over IBC-13.