Jr Champs League gets boost

TWO SPORTSMEN are joining forces to give high school basketball players an opportunity to showcase their wares.

Dr. Cecilio Pedro of Hapee Toothpaste and Dioceldo Sy of Ever Bilena are spearheading the creation of the Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championships (PSSBC), which they believe will help sustain the growth of basketball in the country.

“We hope to help prepare promising junior players realize their dream of playing in the premier collegiate teams someday,” said the two sportsmen, who both served as chair of the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League during its glory years.

“By putting up this new league, we hope we can bring back the crown as being the best basketball country in Asia,” added Pedro, who has also backed swimming.

The league is being envisioned as a so-called “Champions League” for high school teams.

“This league will be an early preview of future superstar of Philippine Basketball,” said Sy, who owns PBA D-League team Blackwater Sports.

Former PBL owners, that also included Terry Que of Welcoat House Paints, are among the stakeholders in the PSSBC along with Jimi Lim of Ironcon Builders, Jimmy dela Cruz of Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Leoncio Chua of MEC, Rudy Yu of Dickies Underwear and Edward Tio of Wrangler.

According to Tio and Lim, only the top teams from UAAP, NCAA and Tiong Lian will be invited in the tournament. Cedelf P. Tupas