GRASSROOTS basketball never stops.
And Got Skills Basketball, which recently was accredited as an associate member of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), is in the forefront in the promotion of youth basketball among high school and university student athletes in the Metro Manila area.
From the summer age-group tournaments to the 3-on-3 competitions now comes 2015 Milcu Elite Showcase that has attracted 32 teams in two age levels – 14 in the Juniors Division (age 16 and under) and 18 in the Seniors Division (age 25 and Under).
Organized by Got Skills, the three-month tournament supported by Milcu Philippines, Slam Magazine Philippines, Gatorade, LGR X Titan Sports Wear, Coach Athletic Trainer’s Tape and Secret Fresh (Ronac San Juan City) got underway last July 4 with championships in the twin divisions to be determined in mid-September. The games are being played primarily in the campuses of Enderun College (BGC, Taguig City), AMA Computer University (Project 8, Quezon City) and Philadelphia High School (Talayan Village, Quezon City). Xavier School (Little Baguio, San Juan City) hosted the opening eight-game bill.
According to Got Skills Basketball founder Allen Ricardo, the tournament format in both divisions calls for a single-round elimination scheme with the top four finishers in each group advancing to the eight-team quarterfinals that are one-loss-and-you’re-out affairs.
The four quarterfinal survivors then qualify for the knockout semifinals, after which the winners advance to the finals of their respective divisions.
The semifinals (September 6) and finals (September 13) in both divisions will be hosted by Enderun College.
“This tournament presents a great opportunity for players who are seeking competitive exposure as they aspire for roster spots on their school varsity teams,” said Ricardo, a former assistant coach at his alma mater Colegio de San Juan de Letran who currently occupies the same position with La Salle Greenhills. “It becomes more gratifying when the SBP, through Mr. Bernie Atienza and Mr. Sonny Barrios, is appreciative of our work in promoting promote grassroots youth basketball in the country by way of the accreditation of Got Skills as one of its members.”
The current team standings are: Juniors Division (16 and Under): Group A – University of Santo Tomas (3-0), Adamson University (2-0), De La Salle Integrated School (2-1), Faith Christian School (3-0), Philadelphia High School (1-3), De La Salle Araneta C (0-1) and De La Salle Araneta A (0-4) and Group B – Chiang Kai Shek College (3-0), University of the East Jrs (3-1), Ateneo Bughaw Basketball (2-2), National University Jrs (1-2), AMA Computer University Jrs (1-2), Xavier School (1-3) and De La Salle Araneta B (0-1).
Seniors Division (25 and Under): Group A – Enderun Colleges (5-0), National University Srs (3-1), Ateneo de Manila University Srs (2-1), University of the East Srs (3-2), Arellano University (2-2), Mapua Institute of Technology (3-3), Adamson University Srs A (1-4), Adamson University Jrs (1-4) and San Sebastian College-Recoletos A (0-3) and Group B – Adamson University Srs B (4-1), STI College-Balagtas (3-1), AMA Computer University Srs (2-1), College of Saint Benilde (1-1), Far Eastern University (2-2), Lyceum University of the Philippines (2-3), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (1-2), San Sebastian College-Recoletos B (1-2) and University of Santo Tomas Jrs (0-3).