FUTURE basketball superstars in Cebu got their skills honed again as they played competitive 3-on-3 basketball with ample sports education during the recent 3rd BTC Cup.

Twenty schools entered at least 69 4-man teams in four age categories and competed in what has now evolved as Cebu’s premier 3-on-3 series at Banilad Town Centre (BTC).

They had the four weekends of August 2011, both Saturdays and Sundays, as opportunities to play with different teams with varying styles & strategies.

“The major basketball leagues in Cebu have been dominated by a handful of schools,” noted BTC marketing director Cerwin T. Eviota, organizing commissioner of the series for three seasons now.

“Our tournament opened the doors to schools that would rather shy away from the big leagues, and they are happy to see that their students play competitive basketball in the BTC Cup because we have a level playing field,” he added.

As the series has since followed the Nike 3-on-3 rules, organizers and officials from Cebu Basketball Referees Association (CeBRA) have always consistently made sure that the teams play no unnecessary roughness.

Character

“I enjoy watching the kids play, and I feel confident my son won’t be hurt unreasonably, and the players gain a lot of wisdom from their experiences in the series,” remarked one parent from PAREF Springdale School.

“CIC (Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion) is a new and a young team. Our boys are happy they had the opportunity to test their skills in the BTC Cup,” noted CIC coach Frankie Lastimoso.

“Nitaas gyud ang confidence sa mga boys nako karon,” added the former Chowking superstar in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

Former Mayor Camilo Go admitted that joining the 3rd BTC Cup was a test if the boys at St. John of Kenty (SJK), his new school in Consolacion, can have a worthy experience.

“Next year we will definitely enter 10-under and 12-under teams,” quipped Go, who coached the 2010 16-under champion team from University of Southern Philippines (USP) Foundation. “BTC Cup helps in honing their skills.”

“Future basketball superstars are being prepared by the BTC Cup,” remarked Virgilio Godinez, coach of San Isidro Parish School (SIPS) in Talamban.

He said parents are very supportive as they are very pleased by the character, discipline and camaraderie promoted by the league.

He isclosed that his players and those at St. Paul Learning Center (SPLC) have since been communicating, and have recently played in each other’s intramurals in friendly matches.

Sacred Heart School (SHS) – Ateneo de Cebu coach Jed Cabellin also affirmed that the BTC Cup has given the players “extra exposure for the kids to develop their skills,” especially for those being prepared for eventual big-time varsity competitions.

The schools

As the BTC Cup gained popularity, seven schools joined the roster this year. They are: Benedicto College, Cebu Bradford School, Formation School & Kiddies Learning Center, University of the Visayas (UV). CIC, SJK and SPLC.

Four schools have had been in their second season in the league, namely: Sotero B. Cabahug (SBC) Forum for Literacy, Word International Ministries, SIPS and USP-F.

Nine consistently took part in the series since 2009.

They are Bright Academy, Cebu Cherish School, Center for International Education, Philippine Christian Gospel School (PCGS), St. Alphonsus Catholic School (SACS), St. Louis College – Cebu, Southwestern University, Springdale and SHS-Ateneo.

Eight had been with the league in either or both the first two seasons. They may have missed it this year, but they indicated to join again next year.

They include Academ Institute, Benthel Asia School, Cebu Eastern College, Don Bosco Technology Center, Maria Montessori International School, M-Zed Christian School, Royal Oaks International School, and University of San Carlos.

2011 champions

The 2011 edition of the BTC Cup saw the SPLC Paladin Knights becoming champion at 10-under, SBC Forum at 12-under, SACS Eagles at 14-under, and UV Baby Lancers at 16-under.

Named Most Valuable Players (MVP) of the year were Joshua Balankig of SPLC at 10-under, Ram Denzylle Pepito of SBC Forum at 12-under, Renz Singculan of SACS at 14-under, and David Du of PCGS Blue Lions at 16-under.

Next year, the league will grant a “Coach of the Year” award for the coach who demonstrates exemplary decorum from the bench in the tournament presented always by Thirsty Juices & Shakes, Dimsum Break and Nike Athletic Club.

The tournament has also been supported since last year by Robinson’s Supermarket, Nature Spring and InterMed Marketing, makers of Cherifer PGM 10-22 Growth Vitamins and Memorx IQ Plus.

This year, Holy Kettle Corn, Tutoring Club, and Optical Adult & Child, distributor of Lacoste, Oakley, Tag Heuer, Giordano, Levi’s and Silhouette sunglasses, have also backed the BTC Cup.

Reportorial articles on the 3rd BTC Cup with lots of action photos from start to end of the tournament may be reviewed online at http://btc2011cup.wordpress.com/.

Articles and photos during the 1st and 2nd BTC Cup may also still be reviewed, respectively, at http://btc2009cup.wordpress.com/ and http://btc2010cup.wordpress.com/.

The 16-under PCGS Blue Lions are shown above with the Dimsum Break BTC store manager and coach Jason Velez’s parent assistant,  from left: Myko Miguel Alvarez, Aldred Emmanuel Du and Jayzon Christian Sy. Not in photo is their skipper is Jean Ray Tejam.

The 14-under PCGS Blue Lions are shown above with their sibling assistant coach, from left: Anthony James Limchesing, Karl Greyson Le, Dustin Philip Yao and Brent Isaac Sy.

UV Lancers skipper Mark Gerard Malagar flies for the basket passing through PCGS Blue Lions defenders as he helps lift his team to earn the coveted Golden BTC Cup as 16-under champions.

BANILAD TOWN CENTRE, Cebu City (28 August 2011) — University of the Visayas (UV) rose back after a game one setback in a best of three series to eventually earn the championship title at 16-under in the 3rd BTC Cup today.

The same was true for Sotero B. Cabahug (SBC) Forum for Literacy after it stumbled in game two in the best-of-three series at 12-under in Banilad Town Centre.

St. Alphonsus Catholic School (SACS) and Team B of St. Paul Learning Center (SPLC) simply overpowered their opponents denying them a third game to grab the titles at 14-under and 10-under.

16-under

PCGS Blue Lions centerpoint man Aldred Du drives past his UV Lancers counterpart Mark Joseph Basea in the deciding Game 3 of their 16-under Finals battle.

Philippine Christian Gospel School (PCGS) gave UV a pressured-packed game at the start of their series that rattled the knees of the Lancers to grab game one, 8-6, of the series presented by Thirsty, Dimsum Break and Nike.

With team orchestrator Jean Ray Tejam not playing on a Sunday for spiritual reasons, Myko Alvarez took charge at game one, scoring six points for the team, while containing UV’s Shawn Vincent Opolentisima.

The Lancers, however, zeroed in their defense on Alvarez in game two that limited the latter to nothing, while Opolentisima got himself into rhythm firing five hits in game two to give UV the needed win, 8-5.

Opolentisima became unstoppable in game three scoring 7 points, including a shot from beyond the arc, to earn for UV the golden BTC Cup over PCGS, 13-9, in this tournament backed by Robinson’s Supermarket and Nature Spring.

Jayzon Sy stepped up for PCGS with two bombs from beyond the arc and a goal but not enough to bail out the Blue Lions that lost steam in the last two minutes of the final game.

14-under

SACS Eagles wingman Junnelve Tumulak goes for the basket against PCGS Blue Lions defenders as he helps lift his team to earn the coveted Golden BTC Cup as 14-under champions.

The SACS Eagles were simply too tough a team to overcome for the 14-under PCGS Blue Lions as the former swept wins, 7-6 at game one and an overwhelming 11-5 at game two.

A validation of his worth in being eventually adjudged as the 2011 BTC Cup 14-under Most Valuable Player (MVP), Ian Renz Singculan carried SACS to earn the crown, scoring nine points in the finals.

PCGS led game two and had the momentum with the score at 5-2 over SACS when their battle got interrupted with over 6-minutes still left in their 10-minute game to give way to the Holy Mass that had just started at the venue.

The Blue Lions scored none as the game resumed.

12-under

CIC Blue Angels' wingman Kelvin Demura drives past SBC Forum skipper Ram Denzylle Pepito as he tries to lift his team that settled for the smaller runner-up Golden BTC Cup. SBC Forum became the 12-under champions.

Ram Denzylle Pepito started hot in the 12-under series banging in seven goals at game one for SBC Forum at it edged Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC), 8-7.

The Forums silenced CIC Blue Angels pointsman Christopher Go but Kelvin Anthony Kyle Demura stepped up scoring four points with Zandyll Gomonit pitching in three.

Demura, a bit lay back during the eliminations, took leadership of the CIC squad even since the playoff started, scoring five marks, while containing Pepito who managed only two goals when the Blue Angels prevailed at game two, 8-5.

SBC Forum skipper Ram Denzylle Pepito fies high.

Game three came as a highly defensive game on both squads with Pepito scoring only two points and giving opportunities for Daniel Selpa and Karl Frederick Osua to contribute a piece.

The Blue Angels could only score once through Demura and eventually bowed to the Forums, 1-4, and lost their dreams for each to bring home the champions’ medal from the tournament sponsored by Cherifer Growth Vitamins.

10-under

SPLC Paladins' Team A skipper Joshua Balankig drives for a basket against Team B centerman Ian Miguel Abella, an effort not enough to lift his team.

Seeded No. 2 during the semi-final games, the SPLC Paladins’ Team B upset their brothers in the top-seeded Team A, 6-4 in game one and 5-3 in game two, to earn the championship medals.

The opposing Paladin squads played like they were not brothers, even  putting game one to an overtime at 3-all at the end of regulation.

The sibling rivalry peaked during the extension.

But Ian Miguel Abella had the force in his hands as he literally carried SPLC-B to back-to-back wins scoring nine points with wingman Prince Evan Aulga Sollano contributing two of the team’s total production.

SPLC Team A Trebuchet bomber Ray Orville Ybañez shoots but defended by Ian Miguel Abella who lifted SPLC Team B to victory.

It came to be a lone jousting quest for SPLC-A skipper Joshua Balangkig who scored all his team’s points, as wingman Ray Orville Ybañez did not find his rhythm to get marks with his trebuchet-fired bombs.

Both teams nonetheless will present to their school by Wednesday, Aug. 31, two golden BTC Cups, the bigger champion cup from Team B and the smaller first runner-up cup from Team A.

The BTC Cup had gone on a third year the support of Holy Kettle Corn, Tutoring Club, and Optical Adult & Child, distributor of Lacoste, Oakley, Tag Heuer, Giordano, Levi’s and Silhouette sunglasses.