Talk ABCC in 2014

  “ABCC” will be a new set of initials that we’ll introduce this year to sports fans. It stands for Alaska Basketball Cup Cebu, Cebu Basketball’s latest venture into youth sports. It’s both new and “not so new” as it’s actually the latest tournament partner of  the Cebu Youth Basketball League (CYBL), a young movement that is now on its seventh season as an advocate of youth and grassroots basketball development. The tournament kicked off yesterday at the Magis Eagles Arena of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) with no less than ex-Philippine team/Alaska/USJ-R/Mama’s Love/M. Lhuillier star Jojo Lastimosa as special guest.

And so for another year, around 50 teams vie for supremacy of age group play in local basketball. The pioneer age groups are the Under 10, 13 and 16 segments. Making its third appearance is the Under 19 age group, a segment composed of CYBL products. The team composition is a mix of traditional basketball powerhouses and a collection of smaller schools. The Under 16 and 13 age groups have two divisions: Division 1 and 2. Division 1 is for the stronger basketball programs, while Division 2 is for developmental teams and smaller schools. The University of the Visayas (UV) is the defending champion in the Division 1-Under 16 age group, but is expected to face stiff opposition from the University of San Carlos (USC) which is currently ranked second to Chiang Kai Shek School in the national Passerelle scene. SHS-AdC and Cebu Eastern College will be there to threaten UV and USC and are capable of creating some surprises. Making a welcome return to the scene is the University of Cebu (UC) which won a CYBL title in 2009. The other teams in the Division 1 Under 16 age group include CEC, USJ-R, Don Bosco, SCSIT, Thumbs Up 1, San Isidro Parish School (SIPS) and Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion-Mandaue. Debuting this year in the Division 2-Under 16 age group are the Asian Learning Center (ALC) of Lapu-Lapu City, Golden Success School, Mount Olives Christian Academy and San Isidro Parish School. The teams from last year are SHS-AdC B, USJ-R–B, Blessed John Seminary 1 & 2, Southwestern University and UV-B.

SHS-AdC is the defending champion of  the Division 1’s Under 13 age group, but USC is seen a favorite, owing to their winning the Cebu SBP title and placing second to La Salle Bacolod in the Visayas SBP finals. UV and CEC round up the top four of the age group. Also playing are USJ-R and Don Bosco. A new face in the scene is the Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran City which seeks to expand its wings beyond Bohol. They are representing the city in the upcoming CVIRAA in February. ALC and Mandaue Christian Academy are the rookie teams that will also see action in the Division 2 Under 13 age group. The other teams are SHS-AdC B, Thumbs Up, CIC-M, Don Bosco –B, St. Benedict and CEC-B. The Under 10 division is a wide open race since it is the entry level of rookies and new faces. While SHS-AdC won it last year, it’s practically anybody’s game with USC and USJ-R expected to step up to the plate. St. Benedict, CEC and Don Bosco round up the Under 10 cast. The teams in the Under 19 division will be known around mid-February when their games start.

An interesting highlight of  the ABCC is that it will recognize an Academic Mythical Five featuring the student athletes with the best academic performances of the current schoolyear, giving importance to the need to balance sports and academics, and proving that both can co-exist. An even more noteworthy thing is that Alaska will partner with the CYBL for three tournaments in 2014, thus giving the youth a lot of opportunities to play the game that they love. An ABCC Summer League is on tap between April and May, while a D-League is tabbed for August to November. For the first time for as long as I can remember, Cebu youth hoops is now assured of games all-year round.

And so after six seasons of grinding it out and finding ways to survive, the CYBL has found an able partner in Alaska which ironically has Cebuano ties deep in its blood. Wilfred Stephen Uytengsu’s family is from Cebu and is more popular for starting popular restaurant Ding How which evolved to Ding Qua Qua, Harbour City and Dimsum Break. And then we have the assistance of Jojo Lastimosa who never forgets to acknowledge that if not for Cebu, he wouldn’t have become who he is today. It’s thus an occasion to say thanks for the partnership and to pray that it not only improves local basketball, but also produces better persons of character among its players. After all, that’s why we’re all into sports. We’re not there for the trophies and medals, are we? We’re there to become better people.

2014 has started out on a high note for the youth basketball movement, and we’re looking forward to a great year.

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Time-out: Check out the Mayor’s Sinulog Cup 2014 (collegiate basketball tournament) which runs from January 27 to 30 at the Cebu Coliseum. >>> You can reach me at [email protected].