Cebu’s young basketball players are getting a wider stage to compete and develop their skills as the provincial government revives the Governor’s Cup after a seven-year hiatus.
The Cebu Provincial Government has allocated P8.9 million for the province-wide under-18 basketball tournament, which will run for about two months and bring together teams from 44 municipalities and cities.
Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said the approved allocation submitted to the Office of the Governor will cover tournament expenses, including payments for referees, commissioners and other requirements.
“Ang approved budget based on what was submitted to the Office of the Governor, it’s P8.9 million,” Empaces said.
The tournament opened on Sept. 27 at the Mandaue City Sports Complex, with Gov. Pamela Baricuatro and PBA legend and former Philippine Sports Commission commissioner Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez leading the ceremonial toss.
Organizers divided the participating teams into geographic areas instead of immediately holding a province-wide competition to reduce travel requirements and make the games more manageable for the participating local government units.
The teams were grouped into the Northeast, Northwest, Southwest and Southeast areas, while an Islands tournament was organized for San Francisco and the three island municipalities in Mactan.
Games are being played on weekends in different areas, with the local competitions expected to narrow the field to the Sweet 16 stage from the last week of October to the first week of November.
At the crossover stage, teams will be ranked and divided into North and South brackets. The top teams will then advance toward a championship matchup between the two sides of the province.
The champion will receive P500,000, while other top-performing teams will also receive cash prizes. Individual awards will include the season MVP and finals MVP.
Each participating municipality will receive P50,000 in assistance, while the provincial government will provide team uniforms. Empaces said the local subsidy may be used for tournament-related expenses, including transportation.
The provincial government, however, is positioning the Governor’s Cup as more than a competition.
“This is a grassroots development program, this is not a tournament,” Empaces said.
The under-18 age limit was also set to give young players an opportunity to gain exposure and potentially attract the attention of colleges and universities in Cebu and elsewhere.
The provincial government also expects the tournament to generate activity in host communities as players, coaches, families and spectators travel to different areas for games.
The basketball program is part of a broader push for grassroots sports development, with other initiatives, including boxing and volleyball, also being planned.
The provincial government sees the programs as a way to provide young athletes with more opportunities to compete while helping develop sports talent across Cebu.
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