TWO UPSTART leagues are fast gaining attention with spirited play, mutli-media exposure and the support of loyal fans.
First in volleyball, there’s the Spikers Turf, a stand-alone men’s tournament that has eight teams now completing its classification phase. A brainchild of Sports Vision, the same group behind the successful Shakey’s V-League, Spikers Turf is out to prove that lightning can strike twice if the men’s game is given enough exposure and competition.
To date, Cagayan Valley, Army, Air Force and PLDT Home Ultera are locked in a race for the top four playoff positions with Champion Infinity and Cignal trying to join the postseason party.
The men’s game is uniquely athletic and powerful, with spikes thundering on almost every play. The younger generation of Filipino athletes today is taller and stronger and can really uncork a tremendous amount of muscle and strength. The jumping abilities are a marvel to watch as spikers nail properly pitched sets or try to adjust to awkward volleyball game situations.
Spikers’ Turf is fundamentally school-fueled with many of the rosters bolstered by players from the UAAP and the NCAA. There are some more “senior” players who are already coaching but can still turn back the hands of time to stay in step with the young ones.
It’s a league worth following and offers great volleyball action and some interesting personalities who could be future stars of the men’s game.
The other league is the FilSports Basketball Association (FBA), a community-based tournament of six teams from different parts of Luzon. The teams include the Antipolo Wangs Pilgrims, Malolos Mighty Bulsa, Laguna BUSA Warriors, Quezon City UP, Metro Racal and Pampanga Foton.
Organized by young businessmen and community leaders who just happened to love basketball, the fledgling league has tapped former PBA star Vince Hizon as commissioner. Hizon is perfect for the role as he has played both as a PBA frontliner and a star of the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association. He knows the game inside out and what it takes to establish footholds in the regions.
A regional basketball league, even if it’s a little less grand than the MBA, is definitely fitting because fans do welcome hoop action on lazy weekends. The regional rivalry adds flavor and boosts support for the league that has opted to limit its operations to the Luzon area.
Reaching out to the Visayas and Mindanao areas is appealing but the MBA experience has taught Hizon and the organizers that keeping the league small but viable is the way to go.
The Spikers Turf and the FBA are looking to grow to make their contributions to sports entertainment and development in the country. Let’s hope other sports also take the plunge and form more tournaments so that more sports can be played and enjoyed.