PBA clubs support six-footers junior basketball

Six ballclubs from the Philippine Basketball Association have agreed to adopt all six teams set to take part in the Bert Lina-Six Footers Junior Basketball Cup which begins Feb. 4.

The PBA ballclubs that have thrown their support to the three-week BAP-sanctioned tournament are Coca-Cola, Talk N Text, Ginebra, Sta. Lucia Realty, Shell and FedEx.

Coca-Cola has adopted the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) selection while TNT will support the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) selection.

The National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) quintet will be backed by Ginebra while the team from Universities and Colleges Athletic Association (UCAA) will be taken care of by Shell.

Sta. Lucia is adopting the selection from the Colleges and Universities Sports Association (CUSA) while FedEx is pitching its support to the RP training pool.

Support comes in the form of allowances, team uniforms and basketball personnel, such as coaches and utility men.

The six-footers league is limited only to junior players, aged 18-and-under, who stand six feet or over.

"I am deeply thankful for the support of my PBA peers in this noble grassroots development program, which I hope can produce tall players who help can the Philippines regain basketball supremacy in the region," said Lina.

The FedEx chairman, a staunch supporter of the Philippine youth basketball team, said tall Filipino players, preferably those standing six-foot-and-above, must be trained as point guards to make them versatile cagers.

Organizers of the championship are looking at three possible TV networks to air the games live – NBN4, ABS-CBN and Viva-Vintage sports.

"On behalf of the BAP, I would like to thank Mr. Lina for initiating this noble program, which we all hope will open the door for a better cooperation between the BAP and the PBA," said BAP president Quinteliano "Tiny" Literal.

Interested and qualified junior players may call up coach Ching Marcelino at tel. no. 861-4092 or Steven of FedEx at 0917-8376796 or drop by at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum 6 to 8 p.m. and look for Marcelino.