To develop potential cagers for future tournaments, Elite Lab is offering a developmental basketball league for Ilonggo promising basketball players.
The inaugural league serves as an avenue to earn opportunities and to join major collegiate programs while securing educational scholarships.
The school-based tournament, which tips off December 18, aims to uncover untapped basketball talent across Iloilo, particularly among young athletes who lack exposure to competitive leagues and collegiate scouts.
According to Elite Lab team manager Eugene Chua, the competition featurye three age divisions — 11-under, 13-under and 15-under — with organizers targeting 30 teams, or 10 squads per category.
“We want to discover more Ilonggo talent,” Chua said during a press conference, stressing that the league will accommodate both public and private schools to give aspiring players equal opportunities.
To ensure fair competition, participating teams must field officially enrolled students and submit school records and other documents to establish player eligibility.
Each squad must have 12 to 15 players, with a registration fee of P7,000 covering tournament expenses, including live game broadcasts on Facebook and YouTube.
A no-zone-defense rule which requires man-to-man coverage to sharpen individual defensive skills and strengthen basketball fundamentals will be required, according to tournament commissioner George Serapia.
All games will be played at St. Robert’s International College, the tournament’s venue partner, with matches scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Organizers are planning a one-day competition.
To recall, Elite Lab has already produced topnotch players in the national arena. Among them are Luke Rose of Lyceum Pirates, Justin Cargo of Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, Irele Galas of College of St. Benilde Blazers, Kent Parreñas of Guang Ming College, and Kyle Sardon of De La Salle University Green Archers, who also represented the Philippines with Batang Gilas.IMT Sports
