TOP sports executive Alfrancis Chua has been a long-time supporter of Filipino student-athletes and their journey to the professional ranks.
Chua, who is the Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) Executive Committee Chairman, previously helped Colegio de San Juan de Letran in winning a three-peat in the NCAA, and is now aiding his collegiate alma mater University of Santo Tomas as they look to reclaim their glory in the UAAP.
But for the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Sports Director and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Team Governor, who was also recently elected new Vice Chairman of the PBA Board, it is now time to extend the help even deeper and focus on highlighting the top high school players of the country.
“We want to expose them,” said Chua, who has been working alongside NGBL Commissioner and PBA legend Ronnie Magsanoc, Tournament Director LA Tenorio of Ginebra, Program Director Bonnie Tan of NorthPort, and Operations Manager & PBA Chief Statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
The NGBL, which is also led by its President Bigboy Cheng and Finance head Eric Ang, is looking to provide the Philippines’ best under-19 players their newest avenue to showcase their skills — a vision that Chua and the rest of the executive committee share and push for.
“We want people to see yung mga high school players natin, and so they can explore kung ano yung meron tayo,” he said.
“Kasi karamihan, pagdating ng college, they would be getting players from a lot of other countries. ‘Di katulad dito, gusto naming maka-develop ng homegrown, na talagang magagaling na galing dito sa atin.”
Aside from giving the top HS players and their respective teams the best platform beyond the established leagues in the country, what the 21-time PBA champion executive wants is for them to eventually transition as the next collegiate and professional stars.
“We’re very excited na makita kung sinong makakapaglaro sa UAAP, NCAA, at eventually makalaro sa PBA. Excited kami kung paano namin ipo-promote yung mga players,” emphasized Chua. “Pasisikatin natin yung mga players dito.”
The NGBL, which is sponsored by URATEX, KNC Group, World Balance, Converge as official internet provider, Verleo Catering, Tanduay Athletics, Gatorade, Molten as official game ball, Team Rebel Sports Pilipinas as the official league outfitter, Summit Natural Drinking Water, and RICA UPVC Aluminum Glass and Trading Corp will open on August 11 at the Tanduay Gym.
All Sunday and holiday games of the league will be held there, while Saturday matchups will be played at the Aero Center in Quezon City.
The 15 squads in the inaugural tourney of the league will be divided into two groups with each group having a single round-robin elimination. The Top 4 teams per group will then advance to the crossover knockout quarterfinals.
The semifinals and the final will also be determined via KO games, and the team which emerges as champion will receive the Php 300,000 cash prize.
Among those which will compete are UST, Ateneo de Manila University, Far Eastern University, National University, the University of the East, Xavier School, and MGC New Life Christian Academy.
Completing the cast are Letran, San Beda University, La Salle Greenhills, Mapua University, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, Arellano University, Jose Rizal University, and Lyceum of the Philippines University.
