BAP-SBP Launch Philippine Collegiate Championship
By Joseph W. Buduan
March 12, 2008

A genuine national collegiate basketball tournament has just taken the first step towards full realization. BAP-Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas, the country’s official FIBA-recognized governing body, has officially launched the Philippine Collegiate Championship.

In a simple signing ceremony at the PLDT Headquarters in Makati City, Manuel V Pangilinan, SBP President, and Rey Gamboa, National Collegiate Champions League Commissioner, formalized the partnership that they hope will usher in a new era for college basketball in the country. Also present at the signing were SBP Executive Director Patrick Gregorio, Ricky Vargas of the PBA, and SBP executive and the RP Women’s Team Program Director Fritz Gaston.

“This is a big boost to basketball in our country. Hundreds of undiscovered players, teams and leagues will be featured under this program,” declared Gamboa. “We want the teams and players to look beyond their mother leagues and see the PCC as the one, true national championship,” he added.

Aside from the prestige of being crowned national champion, schools can also look forward to scholarships and other grants stemming from the PCC. The grants will be a big incentive especially for schools with limited funds for sports development.

There is also the all-important recognition by FIBA: the PCC Champion will be the Philippines’ national collegiate basketball champion and will compete in all FIBA-sanctioned college basketball tournaments the world over. The first PCC Champion will represent the country to the 2009 Universiade Games to be held in Serbia, apart from getting P500, 000 in grants. The Universiade brings together the top school teams and athletes from around the world in a competition similar to the Olympics.

Over 250 teams from nine regional areas nationwide will compete in over 40 venues, including the two leading Metro Manila leagues, the UAAP and the NCAA. There will be a couple of levels of competition including regional and zonal championships to determine which teams will go on to the national level championships. Even the champions of smaller leagues such as the Fr Martin Cup and other developmental tournaments could be considered for slots. The top teams will then slug it out in a “losers go home” Sweet 16 round all the way to a Final 4 until a Champion emerges, similar to the US NCAA National Tournament format.

Other awards including Most Valuable Player and Mythical Team members will also be given.

BTV will be providing television coverage of selected games of all competing schools. “We are looking to provide as much exposure and coverage to all the teams, especially the provincial tams,” said BTV Executive and media personality Jude “Kaboom” Turcuato, who was also present during the signing.

“With this format we are looking to encourage teams and players from the provinces to play their best and develop their programs,” said Gamboa.

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