MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text recently launched its TnT Liga ng Bayan basketball tournament with eight teams competing at the Benjamin Solon Memorial gym in Barangay Cogon Ramos in Cebu City.
Mark Jayven Tallo, a native of the province and tipped as one of the country’s future cage stars, graced the event billed as a training ground for homegrown talents.
As winner of last year’s nationwide search for future cage stars, Tallo received P100,000, plus a sports program for his barangay. He initiated the beautification of the gym, while TnT developed the “Liga,” according to Perry Bayani, marketing head of TnT unit of Smart Communications, Inc.
Mayor Michael Rama was also on hand during the Liga launch which drew the participation of Barangays San Antonio, Calamba, T. Padilla, Day-as, Zapatera, Cogon Ramos, Paglaum, and Sambag 2.
“This event reminds players that as you grow in basketball, you develop good character,” Rama said. “Why not bring this to other barangays? This will promote physical fitness, self-improvement and personality development.”
“I used to play in this gym. I have seen how it created an impact on the barangay people. I hope that TnT will continue to expand Liga ng Bayan, turn it into a bigger event, hold it in a bigger venue, and include more teams from more barangays in the coming years,” said the 16-year-old Tallo, son of former national player and PBA cager Mark Anthony Tallo.
The younger Tallo, who dreams of playing in the UAAP and Smart Gilas Pilipinas, was discovered in his sophomore year when he landed in CESAFI’s Mythical 5 and became its youngest MVP awardee in his junior year. He was also last year’s Junior NBA MVP.
“I started playing at the age of six,” he said. “I developed the love of this game through my dad’s encouragement and inspiration. With his guidance, I am able to juggle my studies and basketball games.”