MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine co-team owner Terry Que has been appointed chairman of the Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) which is staging its seventh edition starting Dec. 15.
Que, 68, has been a staunch supporter of high school basketball even before he – and long-time partner Raymond Yu – decided to put up a team in the PBA.
“Basketball is the reason why I’m still alive and kicking. I play basketball regularly, sometimes twice a day,” said the amiable Que. “I do believe that to sustain the growth of basketball we have to take care of our high school ballers, so here we are again.”
Que replaced businessman-sportsman Rudy Yu of Dickies Underwear under whose watch San Beda University became the first school to win the tournament dubbed “Battle of Champions” twice.
“While the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is doing its very best to keep basketball as our national pastime, we in the PSSBC are doing our own share to provide an avenue for elite teams in the secondary level of different leagues to compete with each other,” said Que. “We need to prepare them.”
The annual event, according to Que, will serve as a window of opportunity for the young ballers not only to showcase their talents in the hope of securing collegiate scholarships.
“Just like in the past, we expect collegiate coaches to scout,” said Que.
Meantime, Freego owner Eduard Tio has also been named vice chairman with multi-titled Ato Badolato as commissioner while Edster Sy, Sunny Co and Bernard Yang, UAAP and NCAA representative as members of the Management Committee.
Aside from Que, Yu and Tio, other backers of the event that will see the debut of Xavier School are Hapee Toothpaste’s Dr. Cecilio Pedro, Blackwater Sports’ Dioceldo Sy, IronCon Builder’s Jimi Lim, Che Lu Bar and Grill’s Jimmy dela Cruz and MEC Networks’ Leoncio Chua.
Also backing the event are Poly Gloss, Masumax Food Supplement, Cherrylume – AngYerong may Aluminum,SUMO GI Sheets and Choi Garden.