As the All-Star Basketball Friendship Games, organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), unfold, Fr. Vic Calvo, Letran's representative to the NCAA board, proposed making such events a staple for all tertiary schools.
This tournament includes teams from state universities, LGU-owned squads, and private institutions.
“We need to have a national inter-tertiary tournament,” Calvo emphasized during a recent press luncheon at the CHED Auditorium in Diliman, Quezon City.
Calvo envisions a seasonal event akin to the former National Inter-Collegiate Tournament and the Philippine Collegiate Champions League.
Such a platform would enable institutions outside premier leagues like the UAAP and NCAA to showcase their talents and compete with teams from diverse leagues, he added.
Veteran FIBA-accredited International Referee Anthony Sulit echoed the sentiment, highlighting the high-caliber competitions in the Friendship Games.
“I would like to thank CHED for organizing a league like this,” Sulit said. “This is a meeting of strong associations from various schools. Hopefully, this becomes an annual event.”
Sulit explained the event fills a gap between high school and amateur leagues.
“High school has Palarong Pambansa. But in college, there’s no equivalent national meet like Palaro,” he noted.
Sulit hopes for legislation to institutionalize a regular inter-tertiary sports meet.
“Somebody should create an initiative in Congress,” he urged. “We need a regular tertiary meet. That’s the gap because, after this level, players move to elite leagues.”
The CHED All-Star Friendship Games features players from leagues such as SCUAA, PRISAA, LCUAA, and NAASCU.
The tournament concludes on Saturday, December 14.
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