ZAMBOANGA City, the “Sardines Capital of the Philippines”, is being considered as the host of the Mindanao leg of the 2021 Pilipinas Vis-Min Super Cup basketball championship sometime in May.
Pilipinas Vis-Min Super Cup chief operating officer Rocky Chan said Zamboanga City, a popular tourist destination in the Zamboanga Peninsula, is an ideal venue for the fledging professional basketball league based in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“We are actually looking at Zamboanga City or Zamboanga del Norte as our venues for the Mindanao leg of the Pilipinas Vis-Min Super Cup,” said Chan during the “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) via Zoom last Thursday.
“Pagpipilian namin ang Zamboanga City na may team na Valientes at Zamboanga del Norte pati na ang dalawang teams na Roxas Vanguards at Sindangan kung sino ang magiging host ng Mindanao leg,” added Chan during the weekly public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
Earlier, Chan and PBA legend and Vis-Min Super Cup ambassador Dondon Hontiveros announced the selection of Alcantara,Cebu as the host of the Visayas leg starting April 9.
Mayor Fritz Lastimoso welcomed the decision of the Vis-Min Super Cup organizers to bring the games to the quiet and peaceful municipality located in the southern part of the Cebu Province.
“Alcantara is the best choice for Vis-Min Super Cup games this April,” said Hontiveros one of the most outsanding players from the Visayas.
A three-time PBA champion with San Miguel Beer and Alaska, Hontiveros admitted Cebu City was the first choice as host of the Visayas leg but they moved it to Alcantara due to Covid-19 concerns.
“Nanghihinayang kami dahil talagang pinaghandaan na ng Cebu City ang tournament. But with the current situation in the city, it’s better to play the game for the meantime in much safer place.”
Chan, on the other hand, said April 9 was chosen as the opening date because of a festivity in Cebu City, the original venue for opening games.
“We didn’t know April 9 is also the opening day of the 46th season of the PBA. But as we’ve said, we are not here to compete. We just want to help promote basketball in the Visayas and Mindanao and help generate more jobs,” explained Chan.
Also present during the TOPS session were Mayor Lastimoso and Vis-Min Super Cup secretary-general Chelito Caro.
