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Boasting a star-studded alumni roster bannered by Kai Sotto, Jeron Teng, and brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, the Small Basketeers Philippines-Passerelle of the Milo Best Center hopes to discover more promising talents
MANILA, Philippines – After a four-year hiatus, the Small Basketeers Philippines (SBP)-Passerelle of the Milo Best Center returns starting this October.
Now on its 35th edition, the program — one of the oldest basketball grassroots events in the country — looks to discover more hoop prodigies in its invitational training camp staged across the country.
“The SBP-Passerelle program plays a crucial role in the development of young cagers by providing them with invaluable experience in competing against teams from various schools across different regions,” said Monica Jorge, executive director of the Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training (Best) Sports, Inc.
“Beyond the court, our program fosters discipline, and instills values that players can carry into their everyday lives,” she added.
There will be two age groups — 9 to 11 years old under the SBP division, and 12 to 15 years old in the Passerelle division — in tournaments that will be played in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The regional games tip off on October 12 in Roxas and wrap up in General Santos on December 27.
An interesting feature is the no “benchwarmers” rule, which allows all players to see action in at least one quarter.
Founded by the late coach Nic Jorge, the program has produced countless alumni, like current pro stars Kai Sotto, brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Jeron Teng, LA Tenorio, Larry Fonacier, and siblings Dave and Sean Ildefonso.
“We have seen how this program has been instrumental in giving Filipino youth a chance at greatness — not just by giving them solid fundamentals for future careers in basketball, but more importantly, by giving them values like grit and determination to pursue excellence and success in life,” said Nestle Philippines executive Veronica Cruz.
The SBP-Passerelle program remains sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the sport’s national federation. – Rappler.com
