A PERPETUAL TROPHY TO INSPIRE

For reaching the highest goal in this year’s collegiate basketball season, the eventual winner of the 2008 Philippine Collegiate Championship games can look forward to having its feat immortalized in a prized trophy named after a leading sports patron. >>MORE

FROM IDEA TO REALITY
By: REYNALDO D. GAMBOA
       Chairman, Philippine Collegiate Champions League

It was a time when leadership in basketball, the most popular sports in the country, was floundering, when programs that were nationwide in scope were conducted on an ad hoc basis and intermittently undertaken. Although collegiate basketball was popular, competitions were limited at the local level and efforts to organize and conduct inter-league competition gained lukewarm support.

It was at this time eight years ago that the idea to bring together collegiate champions of different leagues nationwide was brought up by Coach Joe Lipa, who got immediate positive response from teams in the UAAP and NCAA, popular leagues in Metro Manila.

Trailblazer friends

However, to give the concept of a league of champions a nationwide flavor, it was then important to involve right from the start “mother leagues” in the provinces. The call for pioneering support in the provinces was answered by like-minded people: CESAFI commissioner Felix “Boy” Tiukinhoy, University of Cebu executive chancellor Atty. Baldomero Estenzo, West Negros University’s Tony Agustin and Davao City’s Regino “Boy” Cua.

These individuals provided time, effort and resources to initially organize and launch provincial elimination games as part of the nationwide search for the best collegiate teams. 

To give form and flesh to the concept of a collegiate champions’ league, inputs from different sports-minded individuals and league officials were solicited. One person from many stood out in terms of commitment to convert the idea into reality: current UAAP president and FEU’s Anton Montinola. Since the inception of the idea of a league of champions up to the present, Anton has provided dynamic support to promote and strengthen the process of this annual search for a national collegiate champion.>>MORE

YEAR-END APPRECIATION
By: REYNALDO D. GAMBOA
       Chairman, Philippine Collegiate Champions League

Throughout the year 2009, we received numerous e-mails, letters and calls from readers expressing their views/comments on various issues discussed in this column. Some were in agreement with the views expounded whilst others offered contrary views or brought up other aspects of the issues raised.

To all those readers who spent time to react and express their own views, thank you so much. You gave more meaning to my twice-a-week endeavor to write about matters that affect our daily lives.

In 2009, I was again involved in organizing and managing the search for the best collegiate team in the country. The Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) competition is nationwide in scope with 27 “mother leagues,” e.g., UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, etc., participating and involving over 212 collegiate teams.

To all the collegiate teams, the representing schools, and the mother league organizers, I wish to thank all for making this year’s staging a resounding success. >>MORE

THERE CAN TRULY BE ONLY ONE
By: REYNALDO D. GAMBOA
       Chairman, Philippine Collegiate Champions League

The last phase of Philippine Collegiate Championship League (PCCL), the “Sweet5 16” Finals, is ongoing, and soon, a new champion will be crowned. We can expect full-packed venues in the next playing dates as the best among the best of the collegiate teams in the country meet head-on in do-or-die matches to capture the title, Philippine Collegiate Champion, held last year by De La Salle University Green Archers.>>MORE

Champions League and ABS-CBN Partnership Forged -

September 16, 2009

The Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL), an annual search for the country’s collegiate basketball champion, recently signed an agreement with ABS-CBN for the coverage of its games over the next five years for airing nationwide and in countries serviced by ABS-CBN network.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on behalf of ABS-CBN by president and COO Ma. Rosario N. Santos-Concio, chief finance officer Rolando P. Valdueza, and managing director for Manila Radio and Sports Peter A. Musngi. Gabby Lopez, chairman of ABS-CBN witnessed the event. >>MORE