The Pilipinas Super League didn’t only come up with a slogan that could cater to Filipino ballers from all walks of life, but it also lives by its philosophy of ‘Dito, Pinoy Ang Bida!’ from all corners of the world.
That makes the PSL unique from among the leagues that operate in this basketball-loving nation as it not only provides opportunities for people from different age groups and classes, be it amateur or professional, but it also connects Pinoy hoopers scattered throughout the globe.
“I noticed, very importantly, people in the PSL is willing to unite the groups and assuring all our partners, all the kids and the youth that they become members of the PSL, globally,” said former PBA star Jayvee Gayoso, the PSL deputy commissioner for Luzon, during the group’s guesting at Power and Play with Noli Eala.
“Aside from that, I noticed that the difference of our league is that we are the stepping stone – the amateur, and link it all the way to the professional level. Step by step growth. Everybody that participates in the amateur level gets the chance to make it to the PSL professional level.”
Instead of competing with the other leagues, PSL’s approach is to convince the smaller clubs which organize basketball events and were encouraged to put up a league of their own and being given recognition by the professional league, which has grown to a multi-sports organization.
Leagues from different regions throughout the country as well as Filipino communities overseas that run a basketball league like the North America Basketball Association headed by multi-titled Letran coach Larry Albano, and other Pinoy hoopers from Europe, Asia, and America, had linked up with the PSL.
That’s where the Global Championship Challenge was born even as the PSL felt the need to filter the best talented youth players throughout the country by coming up with qualifying tournaments, hence participants will need to go through the ladder – from qualifying round, to representing their cities, municipalities or provinces, all the way to the national level.
“That’s the reason why we are open to tying up with different leagues from different locations to provide us with qualifying rounds and recognize them as our PSL brothers to come up with these tournaments and doon kami papasok. Winners in those events make it to the regional finals and so on, hanggang sa National and Global,” added Gayoso, who was joined in the weekly show by fellow former PBA greats Gerry Esplana, the overall deputy commissioner, and PJ Simon, deputy commissioner for Mindanao, as well as league president Cris Bautista.
“Makikita mo yung kaibahan dito, from step one, to the last stage of their careers. Pasok hanggang sa professional level.”
According to Gayoso, the fostered partnership the PSL was able to establish with existing minor leagues from different parts of the country, produced a seamless transition from having qualifying stages, becoming it easier to pool together all those teams from different provinces, cities or municipalities to qualify.
“Like in my case in Luzon, we partnered with existing leagues,” added Gayoso. “These leagues have tournaments, for example, Liga Laguna. There’s also another league in Batangas and also in Pangasinan, the group of Danny I (two-time PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso), they’re the ones having leagues there. These are the people we partnered with.”
“Through that, sila na yung magta-touch base sa mga schools, or even non-school based clubs, to invite them to play in the tournaments and the winners will come to us sa PSL.”
Esplana and Simon just wrapped up their respective Regional Finals and 12 teams had already qualified for the National Finals.
From the NCR level, a tournament just supervised by Esplana, the champions were Caloocan (Born 2004), Manila-UST (Born 2006) and Caloocan (Born 2008). They will be joined by the runner-ups in Manila-UST (Born 2004), Caloocan (Born 2006) and Manila-UST (Born 2008).
Simon supervised the Mindanao Regional Finals and he was able to produce champion teams like Davao Occidental (Born 2004), Misamis Oriental (Born 2006) and Davao City (Born 2008). Runner-ups from the different divisions also secured berths in the National Finals and they are Davao City (Born 2004), Tagum City (Born 2006) and Misamis Oriental (Born 2008).
But for Simon, the age-group tournaments for the youth is just the baseline in terms of tapping the talented players in the region.
“I’m very excited, binigyan ako ng opportunity maging deputy commissioner doon. In my time, wala po talagang kaming opportunity na makapag-aral sa mga big collegiate schools,” said Simon. “Ngayon, because of the grassroots program of the PSL, magkakaroon sila ng chance at matutulungan rin namin yung mga bata na ma-navigate yung career nila going here in Manila.”
“About sa mga players namin na naglalaro sa ligang labas doon, maraming magagaling doon, pero dabhil sa program ng PSL, magkakaroon sila ng opportunity na makapaglaro sa professional level.”
The professional level Simon was referring is the Commissioner’s Cup, which is also part of the PSL’s calendar, and it will start in Mindanao from late July to August, the Visayas from August to September and Luzon from September to October.
Players from the Commissioner’s Cup will be composed of professional players who don’t have existing contracts everywhere and will be given opportunity to play here.
Still, the Global Championship Challenge appears to be the flagship tournament of the PSL and this makes Esplana and Bautista more excited in staging the event, which will be hosted by the Philippines beginning July 15 against teams from the United States, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, Thailand and New Zealand among others.
“Countries from different parts of the world ang kasali,” added Esplana.
Bautista clarified that although the Philippines will host this year, another participating country is planning to host next year since they’re already part of the PSL.
“For this year, it will be the Philippines, but next year, US is planning to host it,” said Bautista. “Our National Finals will be composed of qualified teams from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and the NCR, which will be held from July 7 to 11 at Victoria Sports.”
“After that, the champions in the three divisions – Born 2004, 2006 and 2008 – will represent the Philippines in the Global Championship Challenge.”
