Alcoseba eyes bigger, grander basketball tournaments in Cebu City

Sports

FOR the first time after several years, a basketball tournament participated in by top collegiate teams was held in Cebu City.

The 2025 Cebu City Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament was a rousing success with the Cebu City Sports Institute Gym in Barangay Sawang Calero packed from the first day until the final playing date last Monday, August 25.

Cebuano basketball fans can expect bigger tournaments in the coming months as the prime mover of the recently concluded competition looks to sustain the momentum.

“We are happy with the outcome of the tournament. Despite the weather, people really came to see the games. I think it was in 2013 or 2014, led by my late father, when we had a tournament that showcased collegiate teams,” said Rocky Alcoseba, who served as commissioner of the recently concluded six-day tournament.

The Cebu City Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament was participated by three Manila-based universities led by eventual champion Adamson University, University of Perpetual Help, and losing finalist College of St. Benilde.

Completing the five-team field were the University of San Carlos (USC) and University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R).

While USC and USJ-R dropped all of their matches against the visiting schools from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and National Collegiate Athletic Association, Alcoseba was impressed by the showing of the two Cebu Schools Atheltic Federation Inc. (Cesafi) teams.

“The scores of their games may not show it but they competed. The most important thing is we were able to help USC and USJ-R prepare for their upcoming campaigns in Cesafi,” said Alcoseba.

Moving forward, Alcoseba assured basketball fans that bigger basketball tournaments are on the horizon as he is looking to bring in not just top teams from the Philippines but also foreign squads.

Alcoseba is considering two options: putting up a Christmas League or Sinulog Cup.

The son of the late multi-titled Cebuano coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba disclosed that he had initial talks with TNT Tropang Giga team manager Jojo Lastimosa and Meralco Bolts head coach Luigi Trillo for the holding of a Christmas League.

“We definitely have big plans. The problem is, there will be PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) games from October to February so that would create a conflict of schedule for Meralco and TNT if we hold a Christmas League,” said Alcoseba.

With the help of top scout and veteran organizer Van Halen Parmis, Alcoseba is also eyeing to bring in foreign teams for the Sinulog Cup.

Teams from the National Basketball League, a professional league in Australia, and East Asia League are being considered to go up against some teams from the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

“We had initial talks with coach Nash Racela who is an assistant coach with the Quezon Huskers in the MPBL and former vice mayor Dondon Hontiveros for the Cebu Greats if we can have them in our tournaments. We are also eyeing to invite local commercial teams RKF and CM Farm,” Alcoseba said.

Alcoseba emphasized putting up big-time basketball tournaments will be done in close coordination with the Cebu City government.

The recent tournament was fully supported by Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr., who even took time to watch some of the games.

“He (Archival) was happy with the turnout, especially that the tournament also supported his advocacy for recycling,” said Alcoseba.

The recent tournament was free of charge as spectators were only required to bring three single-use plastics as their passes to watch the games.

Alcoseba said close to 1,000 kilos of single-use plastics were collected during the entire duration of the tournament.

“The mayor was very happy because even in holding sports activities, we were able to contribute to his advocacy for environmental care,” Alcoseba said.(CCM)