Leyteño cagers at the cornerstone of Cebu’s Team Khalifa
They may be representing Cebu as members of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars but six promising hardcourt warriors from Eastern Visayas are at the cornerstone of Team Khalifa that emerged as champion of the 2024 Smart-National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Visayas Regional Finals presented by SM Supermalls last week at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School in the City of Smiles.
Bannered by the Baby Jaguars with reinforcements from the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, and Indiana Aerospace University (IAU), Cebu’s Team Khalifa edged past St. Roberts International College (SRIC)-Elite Lab of Iloilo, 62-57, in their nerveracking final match to grab the regional crown.
More importantly, Team Khalifa booked a spot to the National Finals slated on March 18-24 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City where they will see action alongside the UAAP and NCAA’s finalists, 10 teams from NBTC’s global partners in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, four qualifiers from South Luzon, and two wildcard entries from the Philippine Under 19 Championship.
Five of the Baby Jaguars donning the jersey of Team Khalifa under the guidance of head coach Melo Banua are from Leyte in Jan Vince Oringo (Tanauan), Alcher Obra (Matalom), King Padoga (Capoocan),Zac Gebrial Negado (Carigara), and John Lloyd Mejares (Merida). Their other comrade, Kyle Yabao Rueda, is from Calbayog City in neighboring Samar.
“There are a lot from Region 8 who are varsity players in Cebu. Like the other cagers from nearby provinces, they flock to Cebu because of exposure and opportunities,” said Atty. Francis T. Tolibas, the ever supportive manager of Team Khalifa.
Rich in talent, Leyte has minted a good number of Philippine basketball greats through the years, most notable among them are 19-time PBA champion and four-time MVP Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez and two-time Olympian Joaquin “Jake” Rojas, who are both from Maasin, and Rey Evangelista, a fourtime PBA champion and five-time All-Star who is currently councilor of Ormoc City.