Navotas clutch: Developing sports in the grassroots level

LOST in the sea of colorful names in the newly launched Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) is the City of Navotas that chose to use Clutch for its team name.

In sports parlance, being “clutch” means performing under pressure and doing whatever is necessary to change the outcome of the game.

But more than being “clutch” in games, Navotas Clutch aims to promote grassroots sports development starting with basketball and in the city of Navotas.

According to lawyer Rico Quicho, who is part of the management team of Navotas Clutch, quality and effective grassroots and rural sport development programs need to be put in place to ensure the development of a sporting culture in the country.

“We really don’t have a grassroots sports program in the Philippines. This has been the problem for so many years and we thank the city of Navotas for partnering with us in this endeavor,” Quicho said.

“One of our major objectives in Clutch is to identify potential athletes and set up a recruitment vehicle for them to be recognized,” he added.

Quicho cited the stories of Navotas Clutch players Richard Albo and Arvie John Vicencio who are veterans in different basketball leagues in Navotas.

Albo, 33, said playing in barangay leagues helped him provide for his family. And while he accepted the fact that he may never play in the PBA, he never stopped dreaming of one day being able to play in a national televised game.

Vicencio, meanwhile, is a 39 year oldkagawad of Barangay Navotas West. He said he has been playing basketball for a long time and decided to attend the open try-outs held in Navotas during the start of the year.