THE 2015 Milcu Elite Showcase basketball tournament is midway through the elimination round of both the Juniors Division (age 16 and under) and Seniors Division (age 25 and under) with the crowds at game venues Enderun Colleges at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Philadelphia High School along Talayan Village in Quezon City and AMA Computer University in Project 8, Quezon City getting bigger and bigger as marginal veterans with high school and/or college varsity experience and up-and-coming prospects sharpen their skills in preparation for their respective league tournaments in the Metro Manila area.
The three-month competitions, which is being organized by new Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) associate member Got Skills Basketball and supported primarily by Milcu Philippines and its partners Slam Magazine Philippines, Magic 89.9 FM Radio, Gatorade, LGR X Titan Sports Wear, Coach Athletic Trainer’s Tape and Secret Fresh (Ronac San Juan City), have also seen highly-respected coaches like legendary Filipino cage great Fortunato (Atoy) Co Jr. of Mapua Institute of Technology, brothers Derick and Dindo Pumaren of the University of the East, former pro Rodney Santos with his alma mater San Sebastian College-Recoletos, and Goldwin Monteverde of the Chiang Kai Shek College and Adamson University high school squads, and one-time professional player and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) bench boss Gerry Esplana, who is keeping an eye on his teenage son’s cage progress with the University of Santo Tomas, watching the games from the sidelines.
“This goes to show how much importance the coaches have given to this tournament as a competitive training ground for players in their varsity programs,” said Got Skills Basketball founder Allen Ricardo, who himself was once part of the coaching staff at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran under the venerable Louie Alas and is currently the head coach of the La Salle Greenhills developmental program for boys ages 13 and 14.
“More exposure means more learning experience for youthful players who seek to reach the next level in their basketball careers. At Got Skills, we inspire the boys to develop physical and mental toughness, practice sportsmanship and inculcate in them cha- racter values such as discipline and respect for their co-athletes.”
Among the prominent players honing up their skills in the Milcu Elite Showcase are former NCAA juniors standout C.J. Perez, who’s entering his rookie year with the Blue Eagles of the Ateneo de Manila University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, erstwhile Tiong Lian and Chiang Kai Shek College juniors ace J.V. Gallego with National University and former De La Salle University Green Archers Matt Salem and Terrence Mustre, who are now donning the colors of NU and Adamson University, respectively.
Going into this week’s action, Enderun Colleges (5-0) is still unbeaten in Group A of the Seniors Division (age 25 and under) and Adamson University (4-0) remain unblemished in Group A of the Juniors Division.
Hereunder are the games this week:
Saturday, August 15 (AMA Computer University venue)
8 a.m. (16U-A) – Xavier School vs. UE Jrs
9:15 a.m. (16U-B) – AMA Computer Jrs vs. NU Jrs
10:30 a.m. (16U-A) – Adamson vs. De La Salle Araneta A
11:45 a.m. (16U-B) – UE Jrs vs. De La Salle Araneta B
1 p.m. (16U-B) – Ateneo Bughaw vs. Chiang Kai Shek
College
2:15 p.m. (16U-A) – UST vs. De La Salle Araneta C
Sunday, August 16 (Enderun Colleges venue)
7:30 a.m. (25U-A) – NU Srs vs. Arellano
8:45 a.m. (25U-B) – UST Jrs vs. Lyceum
10 a.m. (25U-A) – Adamson Jrs vs. Ateneo Srs
11:15 a.m. (25U-A) – Enderun Colleges vs. Mapua Tech
12:30 p.m. (25U-A) – SSC-Recoletos A vs. Adamson Srs A
1:45 p.m. (25U-B) – AMA Computer Srs vs. SSC-Recoletos B
3 p.m. (25U-B) – PUP vs. College of St. Benilde
4:15 p.m. (25U-B) – STI College-Balagtas vs. FEU