The Other Champions’ League

With the big school-based leagues having wrapped up their respective tournaments, this time of the year is usually spent determining the champion of champions from the different leagues across the country.

At the collegiate level, ongoing is the 2013 National Collegiate Championship where the champions from the different leagues converge. It’s also known as the Champions’ League. Already in the round of four after getting outright berths are UAAP champion De La Salle University and NCAA kings San Beda College. CESAFI runner-up Southwestern University is making a second straight appearance in the round of four after winning the Southern Islands Championship last Wednesday, getting back reigning CESAFI champion University of the Visayas via a 68-60 win. At the high school level, the Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship is also ongoing, showcasing the top high school programs from the UAAP, NCAA and Tiong Lian leagues. Leading the pack are the likes of UAAP Juniors champion National University, five-peat NCAA champion San Beda and Tiong Lian titlists Hope Christian School. But are these the only tournaments being held for champions?

Allow me to feature a segment that hardly gets any media space in the national dailies due to the presence of the big boys which are like commercial leagues dressed up as inter-school tournaments. Taking place right now in the city of San Fernando, Pampanga is the national finals of the BEST Center SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament sponsored by Milo. Now on its 29th year, the tournament has served as the premier venue of  competition for the Under 15 (Passerelle) and Under 12 (Small Basketeers Philippines) age groups. Coming together are the regional champions from the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These regional champions were determined after the staging of various provincial legs across the country which actually kicked off  in July. In the Visayas, the champions of the Cebu, Negros, Iloilo and Capiz faced off to determine the Visayas champion. The University of San Carlos (USC) won the Passerelle title over University of St. La Salle (USLS) of  Bacolod, while USLS got back and beat USC for the SBP championship. The Luzon champions are Berkeley School of Baguio (SBP) and Angeles University Foundation of Pampanga. Ateneo de Davao won both the SBP and Passerelle championships of Mindanao. Coming out as champions from Metro Manila were defending national champions La Salle Greenhills (SBP) and Chiang Kai Shek College (Passerelle). All eight teams are now in Pampanga battling it out for the national championships of both divisions.

But so what? Why the big deal? Basketball followers acknowledge that the SBP and Passerelle age groups have become the breeding ground of today’s biggest stars (past and present). Practically most of today’s collegiate players saw action in the SBP and Passerelle age groups before they joined their respective high school juniors teams and if lucky, their college teams. The more popular names that pop out include the likes of  James Yap, Chris Tiu and Kiefer Ravena. The Ravena brothers Kiefer and Thirdy were special guests yesterday’s opening ceremonies. In the Cebu scene, an estimated 80% of all high school varsity players got their first taste of inter-school basketball competition at the SBP or Passerelle age group. One of the biggest boosts about the program is that it’s national in scope in terms of operations. All provincial legs follow the same set of ground rules such as ages, composition of  players, academic requirements and tournament format. From Baguio all the way to Zamboanga, all tournaments are doing the same thing. Thus, there is a uniformity of the way the games and tournaments are run.

The other unique element is that the tournament’s biggest trophy is not for the champions, but for the Sportsmanship Award. Sure, a champion gets a trophy and medals, but the Sportsmanship Award is considered just as important or even more important. It’s all about recognizing the other side of sports that helps build character and makes better persons out of all its participants: players, coaches, parents, spectators and officials. The national and regional finals are also unique experiences where a Bisaya has to speak Tagalog to his “rivals.” New friendships are established both on and off the court, and discipline is developed through the strict implementation of house rules for all. A dress code and guidelines on courtesy are instilled. Slippers aren’t allowed anywhere in the accommodations area and mess hall. Misbehaving fans, coaches and players are disciplined. And when the games are done, a fellowship night where the players show off their talents becomes the most awaited moment of all. Overall, everyone goes back to his respective area with a broadened outlook and horizon.

At the end of the day, it boils down to create a unique SBP Passerelle experience. Is it all about winning a championship? Is it all about becoming the most talented player? After 29 years, it isn’t. Let’s just say it’s more than that. It has helped people to become better persons in life; champions in life. This is the other champions’ league.

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Time-out: Let’s never slacken in praying for and helping the victims of  Yolanda and Linog 7.2. >>> You can reach me at [email protected].