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A
boost to basketball players everywhere |
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ALTHOUGH
deep in the preparations for the upcoming National
Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League, this corner
won’t let the opportunity pass without thanking those
who backed the recent Junior Super League (JSL).
Indeed,
the JSL was given the big boost when the red-and-white
colors of Coca-Cola adorned it for the past two months.
It is definitely a delight seeing players shedding their
school colors for a while to wear the uniforms provided
for by Anta.
Whether
the games were close or blowouts, the players and the
supporters cheered their hearts out for their teams in
the eliminations, semifinals and finals. As I said in a
previous column, this league definitely presented the
purest fun that basketball could offer without the fame
and fortune in its later years.
In the
finals, Hope Christian beat Xavier School for the boys’
1-2 crown, Miriam College bested Adamson for the lone
women’s crown while La Salle Greenhills nipped
University of Santo Tomas for the boys’ 3-4 crown.
We would
also like to say thank you to the participating teams,
namely, Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, Don Bosco
Mandaluyong, Holy Trinity Academy, IHMC, Rizal High
School, University of Santo Tomas (UST), Xavier,
Adamson, St. Vincent, Chiang Kai Shek College (CKSC),
St. Jude, St. Stephen, Ernesto Rondon, Hope Academy ,
Antipolo Lady of Lourdes School, St. Patrick, Don Bosco
Makati and JASMS for the boys 1st and 2nd division.
For the
third and fourth year division, the teams are Lourdes
School of Mandaluyong, Don Bosco Mandaluyong, School of
St. Anthony, Ernesto Rondon, St. Vincent, ALLS, Rizal
High School, St. Dominic, CKSC, UST, Immaculate
Conception Cathedral, Philippine Science, Hope Academy,
St. Patrick, St. Stephen, Holy Trinity Academy,
International Christian School, Don Bosco Makati and
IHMC.
For the
girls division, the honor roll includes Miriam, Rizal
High School, St. Stephen, Philippine Science, St.
Scholastica’s, Adamson, Holy Trinity Academy, School of
St. Anthony, Hope Academy and JASMS.
To these
teams, particularly the players, coaches, supporters and
the administration, we say our congratulations and
heartfelt thanks.
Kudos is
also directed to the organizers, led by Tyrone Limon and
the hard-working Coach staff.
On the
surface, it might be just another school tournament, but
of course, this corner will insist that it will be
something more in the future.
Among
the array of young and eager basketball players for
50-plus teams, there will surely emerge players who will
define the Philippine Basketball landscape in the coming
years.
Speaking
of changing the basketball landscape, we do hope that
the NBTC D-League does that when it comes off the wraps
on October 25. For this we thank Samahang Basketbol ng
Pilipinas headed by Manny V. Pangilinan, with executive
director Noli Eala. We will also take to heart the
invaluable advice of Youth Basketball Commission
chairman Nic Jorge and the support of Nokia. We can’t
wait until the games actually kick off on that date. |
