Birth of the NCBL

The National Collegiate Basketball League fires off on March 1 at the Technological Institute of the Philippines, after a period of almost one year’s incubation. The vision of an alternative basketball league framed with higher virtues will be introduced to the public at a press conference on Feb. 22.

The short introductory tournament already includes four schools: host TIP, Trinity University of Asia, Centro Escolar University and Don Bosco. Four more colleges are scrambling to complete the requirements to make it in time for the opening. At least six other learning institutions have signified their intentions of joining the full-blob league when it opens in June. Schools from as far as Pampanga, Batangas and Cavite have all sent feelers to the organizers. Some are even willing to leave their current leagues to join the NCBL.

“This is just a foretaste, a means of showcasing what we want to achieve as an alternative culture in varsity basketball,” says tournament director Totie Andes. “We want things to go smoothly, because we are in this for the long term.”

Organizers have partnered with international sports group Athletes in Action, giving the league a latent spiritual leaning. Officials are currently conducting orientations among member schools, to help change the “old school” method of coaching and playing, wherein winning at all costs and cutting corners is acceptable behavior. The NCBL aims to make such things unnecessary or at most, not an option.

“It’s a mindset for some coaches to have their players hurt an opposing player just to win a game,” explains NCBL organizer and TIP head basketball coach Potit de Vera. “They forget that we are dealing with youth who will be our future leaders, and we are teaching them that it is okay to do those things. We disagree with that. The end doesn’t justify the means.”

From the outset, the founders realized that it would not be an easy challenge, since the old way has been around for so long, and is still widely practiced. For some coaches, it is the nay way they know to win. Surprisingly, some school owners were unaware of the training and coaching methods of their own varsity mentors. Now, they also realize that it could be bad for the image of their schools, and a change is due.

The NCBL is also looking at bringing this new idea to the provinces, since the country’s more prestigious leagues don’t really have a presence outside of Metro Manila. In fact, the problem even with “national” championships is that they are depending on partnerships with big leagues in Cebu, Davao and other places that already have a fixed schedule. To get the best of the best, they have to wait until everybody else finishes playing their own tournaments first.

“Down the road, we really want to be as inclusive as possible, all while maintaining the kind of league we believe can be achieved, with high value on sportsmanship, fair play and valuing the person more than just the game,” De Vera adds. “There are many schools that cannot join the UAAP or NCAA, and we would be happy to accommodate them. We’re just taking things one step at a time.”

After the initial tournament, the NCBL will evaluate itself, and establish firmer ethical guidelines. At the end of the day, it is about doing old things a new way, and that may take some time. But what is important is that the “happy third league” is filling a need that has so far been neglected. 

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The 10th Brother Benedict Golf Cup will be held at the Valley Golf & Country Club on Feb. 26. Registration starts at 6 a.m. and shotgun play starts at 8 a.m. To register call 5236158 or 5244611, local 122. The tournament is for the benefit of the One La Salle Scholarship Fund.