HOMEGROWN talents will be the main focus when the 2021 Pilipinas Vis-Min Super Cup basketball championships opens its inaugural season in Alcantara, Cebu on April 9.
Vis-Min Super Cup chief operating officer Rocky Chan and secretary-general Chelito Caro said all teams in the Visayas leg and Mindanao stage are required to field at least six homegrown players as part of the league’s grassroot development program.
Speaking at the “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS), Chan and Caro both underscored the need to allow more homegrown players in the league.
“Aside from generating jobs during this pandemic, we also want to help promote basketball in the countryside. We want to help more homegrown players and give them the opportunity to play,” said Chan during the forum sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
“Madaming magagaling na players from the Visayas and Mindanao who want to play basketball,” added Chan, who was joined in the weekly session by PBA legend Dondon Hontiveros and Mayor Fritz Lastimoso of Alcantara, Cebu.
Caro, on the other hand, said all 12 teams — six in the Visayas and six in Mindanao — are already finalizing their respective line-ups.
“The Vis-Min Cup is open to everybody, even Manila-based players and Fil-Ams who trace their roots in the region.
“We are not very strict pagdating sa mga players ng aming mga teams, kahit pa nga yun mga foreign-based players who can prove they have Filipino blood,”explained Caro, a multi-titled coach in Cebu.
“Even sa age wala gaanong restriction. In fact, one of our more-popular players is Jojo Tangcay, who is already 44 years old.”
But Caro said teams must field at least six homegrown players.
“Yun homegrown players na talagang lalaro sa team at hindi parang palamuti lang. Yun mga players na ipinanganak at lumaki sa probinsiya na kakatawin ng team nila,” he explained.
“Gusto natin makita sila ng mga kababayan nila na talagang nakakapaglaro sila. It’s their chance na talagang mapanood sila.”
Caro said the Visayas andMindanao legs will be played separately
‘Wala na gaanong inter-island travel dahil yung lalaro sa Visayas, sa Visayas lang. Yun sa Mindanao, sa Mindanao lang. Sa championship na sila magtatagpo.”
