All set for Cebu D-League

CEBU, Philippines - With all its framework already been laid out, the Cebu D-League, a developmental basketball tournament for players aged 25 years old and below, is ready for take off in the runway of local sports on March 8 at the Cebu Coliseum.

Cebu City Sports Commissioner Michael Sy said in a press conference yesterday at La Fortuna Hotel that their primordial objective in forming the league is to give the Cebuano hoopsters an avenue to further harness their skills  especially those who have already graduated from college.

"The main concept of D-League is to help basketball in Cebu by giving players the much-needed exposure because I noticed that every year, there are only two major events taking place here," said Sy, referring to the regular tournament of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) and the Partner's Cup, its pre-season offering usually staged in summer.

"I feel that this D-League will benefit both the players and the team owners because of the minimal expenses it entails. Also, I want to emphasize that this league is not for money, much more not for the players to earn money. The very purpose of this league is exposure, giving the players the opportunity to further showcase their talents," he added.

In formally launching the D-League, Sy was joined by his father and number one backer, Lorenzo "Chao" Sy, himself a revered sportsman whose passion for basketball that spanned for several decades now is beyond question.

"As what my son Michael said, our topmost goal is to be a partner in the development of Cebu basketball. We desire nothing else other than for the betterment and career advancement of our players. Who knows while playing in this league, they will get noticed by people from outside of Cebu that could eventually lead them to play in the Manila D-League or possibly in the PBA someday," said Chao Sy.

"If ever it happens, it's source of pride for us knowing that somehow we are able to chart a brighter career path for our Cebuano cagers and that's what matters most," added Chao Sy, who was also once an avid boxing promoter.

On the other hand, the younger Sy said they are targeting six teams for their maiden venture. Among those who have already expressed their interest to join the league are Rafael's Cafe that will mostly likely be bannered by the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), RDAK Transport, Inc., Cebu Landmasters, the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, and the International Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IPI).

Each team will be assessed with a P50,000 entry fee plus a P10,000 bond. They shall be composed of a maximum of 10 players with a cap of only P500 per game.

The owners have liberty to choose at least three players to form the core of their teams, while the remaining seven will be picked from a mini camp that the organizers will set up on February 22. The selection process will be done through a lottery to ensure a balanced composition of each squad.

Those who are willing to join the camp must fill up a form available at La Fortuna Hotel starting on Monday. Interested applicants should bring along with them a certified true copy of their birth certificates. The deadline for registration is on February 20. (FREEMAN)