Lawyer Ramil Abing (right), executive director of the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission, presides over an organizational meeting for the Cebu Province Basketball Cup yesterday at the Legislative Building of the Cebu Provincial Capitol. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
From up north to down south, the entire province will be scoured in search for potential talents in basketball as initial steps for the staging of Cebu Province Basketball Cup finally got going yesterday.
An organizational meeting was held yesterday at the Vice Govenor’s Conference Room of the Cebu Provincial Capitol.
Representatives of various municipalities and cities attended the meeting, which was presided by lawyer Ramil Abing, executive director of the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC).
One of the prime movers of the tournament, former Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez, and sports patron Lorenzo “Chao” Sy, Philippine Sports Commissioner regional coordinator for the Philippine Institute of Sports for the Visayas, also attended the meeting.
“This tournament is fully supported by our governor. We want this tournament to become prestigious and competitive one,” said Abing.
The tournament is part of CPSC’s program to strengthen grassroots talent.
“It will provide another venue for our aspiring athletes to further hone their skills,” said Abing.
As part of the tournament’s vision to discover raw talents, major cities like Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue were excluded.
Initially, the tournament was conceptualized for players aged 18–25. Also, teams were also allowed to field five imports, who are registered voters of Cebu.
But after thorough discussion during the meeting, it was agreed that the tournament will be open only for players aged 21 and below.
It was also agreed that imports will no longer be allowed to play.
Each team is allowed to field in former players who were already inactive for three years.
The deadline for confirming of participation was set on Feb. 17, while the deadline for the submission of lineups is on March 1.
Abing said the tournament will be handled by officials from the Cebu Sports Athletics Federation Inc. (Cesafi).
The tournament will be divided into two divisions — the South and North. Each division will be broken into two clusters.
To compose the Cluster 1 (northwestern) in North Division are Madridejos, Bantayan, Sta. Fe, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Asturias, Balamban, Toledo, Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan and Toledo.
The Cluster 2 (northeastern) of North Division will have Daanbantayan, Medellin, Bogo City, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, San Francisco, Poro, Tudela and Pilar.
In the South Division, the Cluster 3 (southeastern) will have Oslob, Minglanilla, Boljoon, San Fernando, Carcar City, Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Cordova and Talisay.
Cluster 4 (southwestern) will be comprised of Barili, Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc, Ginatilan, Samboan and Santander.
The final composition of the groupings will be finalized once the number of competing teams are finalized.
Abing said the province could help defray the cost of forming a team by shouldering the players’ uniform.
“Initially, a cash prize as high P500,000 will be at stake. But it may be lesser since it will depend on what assistance we will provide to each municipality in forming their teams,” said Abing.