UPHILL BATTLE
Samsam Gullas
With home court advantage in tow, the Passerelle squad of the University of the Visayas (UV) is hopeful of going all the way to the crown when it competes against the best of the best in the national finals of the Milo-backed BEST SBP-Passerelle Tournament, which kicks off tomorrow at the SHS-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles Arena in Canduman, Mandaue City.
The boys of head coach Jaymar Canoy and team manager Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas are up against some tough odds but the latter is confident in his wards’ skills and confidence, especially with the uphill battle that they have had to overcome in the program’s brief four-year existence.
“Hopes are high for this team to win it all this year,” said Gullas. “These kids are well coached and all of them play within a system that time and time again has been successful during international play.”
Ranged against the Baby Lancers are three of the country’s finest 15-under teams. These are defending champions Chiang Kai Shek College, the Holy Angel University of Luzon and Mindanao ruler, Holy Child College of Davao.
Gullas said that regardless of the tournament’s outcome, he is already proud of his team.
“This team is only four years old. Who wouldn’t be proud? Much more special is the fact is that I started this program and it’s something I’m truly proud of because I’ve seen it grow over the years,” the affable sportsman said.
The classification phase of the tournament will see the teams face off against one another in a single round-robin with the top two finishers duking it out for the much-coveted crown.
The last time a Cebu team has hoisted the Passerelle title was in 2011, when the Magis Eagles went all the way in a tournament that was staged here in Cebu.
In the Small Basketeers of the Philippines class, competing for the title are Xavier School, Berkeley School of Baguio, Bukidnon Faith Christian School Inc. and Ateneo de Iloilo.
The tournament is now on its 29th edition and has produced many of today’s top players in both the professional and collegiate leagues.
Cebu products of the SBP Passerelle tournament include national youth players Paul Desiderio, Henry Asilum, Dave Yu, Leonard Santillan, Arnie Padilla and Dawn Ochea.