CBA lays down framework for Visayas leg
The Community Basketball Association (CBA) is targeting 12 teams from the Visayas region for its inaugural season set to take off on January 12.
This was jointly announced by CBA Founder and Director Carlo Maceda, CBA Commissioner Alfredo “Pido” Jarencio, and CBA Visayas Governor Beaujing Acot during an organizational meeting attended by several coaches the other night at Chika-an restaurant in Parkmall.
Instead of an open competition, the Visayas leg will follow a 21-under format similar to that of the highly successful Cebu Governor's Cup.
Aside from the age ceiling, what separates CBA from the other leagues is that only homegrown players will be seeing action as Fil-Ams, ex-pros and foreign cagers are barred from taking part in the community-based, fiesta-style league.
"This is in keeping with our mission to help discover talents and showcase the skills of our players in the countryside," said Maceda.
The other thing of beauty is that all games will be televised live over
PAUL JUN E. ROSAROSO
IBC 13, with Maceda promising to build a platform that is cut above the rest.
"Eto ang pinakamagandang chance na mapanood ang mga bagong players sa Cebu. Nag-effort kami to extend our league to find new talents and give the aspiring players the needed exposure. Through CBA, we want to bring back the glory days of Cebu basketball," said Jarencio, who is also the head coach of Northport Batang Pier in the PBA.
As for the prospective pioneering members, Maceda said they will be asking only each team a membership fee of P550,000 for the entire duration of the three-month tournament.
The top performing team in the Visayas leg will be going up against the winners of the National Capital Region (NCR), Luzon and Mindanao legs in the national finals sometime in April next year. The grand champion will pocket P2 million, half of which will be donated to a barangay or public school of the winning team's choice.
"We are doing this because CBA is not just basketball, it's to bring the community up," said Maceda.
Interested teams are given only until December 10 to pay their reservation fee of P50,000 so the CBA can keep things going and kick off as scheduled. For further details, one may keep in touch with coach Carlito Caro at 0906-4735868.