Chelito Caro, secretary-general of Pilipinas Vismin Super Cup, says that the overwhelming support of Alcantara municipal government is among the reasons why the town was chosen as the Visayas leg venue for the league. | Caro’s FB page
CEBU CITY, Philippines — After a thorough and careful assessment, the Pilipinas Vismin Super Cup has found its home in the sleepy town of Alcantara in southwestern Cebu.
Alcantara, roughly a hundred kilometers away (94.9 km) from Cebu City, will be the epicenter of this massive basketball league come April 9.
Alcantara, headed by its Mayor Fritz Lastimoso, has been one of the top alternative venues for the upcoming league held in a bubble setup. This after, the original host, Cebu City, is still dealing with the rising COVID-19 cases.
The secretary-general Pilipinas Vismin Super Cup, Chelito Caro, confirmed to CDN Digital that they have officially chosen Alcantara as the Visayas leg host.
”Confirmed na nga adto i-held after we carefully assessed everything. Ang mayor sa Alcantara supportive kaayo sa league nato. Ilang court nindot kaayo and most of all, grabe ang support sa municipal government,” Caro told CDN Digital.
(It is confirmed that it will be held there after we carefully assessed everything. The mayor of Alcantara is very supportive of our league. They have a nice [basketball] court and most of all, the overwhelming support of the municipal government.)
“Willing kaayo sila motabang. In fact, ilaha jud girenovate ang ilang basketball court. Nag construct sila ug dug-out for both teams just for this league,” he said.
(They are willing to help. In fact, they renovated their basketball court. They contructed a dug-out for both teams just for this league.)
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The Pilipinas Vismin Super Cup is the first professional basketball league based outside Manila, featuring commercial teams from Visayas and Mindanao.
Caro said he believed that the league’s enormity would be an excellent boost for Alcantara and Cebu Province’s sports and local tourism.
Alcantara is known for its beaches, old churches, waterfalls, and their local festival billed as “Bahandi Festival,” held every August.
“Gipili namo ang Alcantara kay minus kaayo ang COVID-19 cases didto. Sa akong nahibaw-an naa sila one (1) active case unya wala na confine didto. Kani nga liga anhi jud unta ni sa Cebu Coliseum, [but,] unfortunately, sige man ug saka ang kaso sa COVID-19 sa Cebu City,” Caro said.
(We choose Alcantara because there are few COVID-19 cases there. As far as I know, they only have one case and the patient is not even confined there. This league was supposed to be held at the Cebu Coliseum, [but] unfortunately, the COVID-19 cases in Cebu City have continued to increase.)
He said that they also looked at Bogo and Toledo cities as their alternative venues, but Mayor Lastimoso’s all-out support convinced him and the rest of the league’s organizing body to choose Alcantara.
Strict Bubble Environment
Caro reasserted that they would strictly implement the health and safety protocols of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
With that in mind, they tapped the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the municipal government to secure the bubble environment for the league’s entire duration.
“Kung available na ang vaccines, then required na jud tanan ma bakunahan. We are very optimistic nga available na ang vaccine, pero sa pagkakaron, mo follow jud mi sa bubble setup strictly,” said Caro.
(If the vaccines are available, then all will be required to be vaccinated. We are very optimistic that the vaccine will be available, but, for now, we will follo the bubble setup strictly.)
Each team has to get the mandatory swab test before they are allowed to enter the bubble environment.
Caro said that players and officials, who would violate their health and safety protocols would face penalties or sanctions./dbs