Beyond the Game 

Community Basketball Reboot in the works

By Brian Yalung

Basketball leagues have been popping up left and right, some trying to pick up where they left off. Most were left grounded when COVID-19 hit and there were some unfortunate enough to fold.

One league that showed promise was the Community Basketball Association. A brainchild of former actor and now-businessman Carlo Maceda, the league intended to contribute to the country’s drive to develop locally-bred players. Aspiring basketball players from different regions were given a platform to showcase their skills and there were plenty that showed promise.

Now, the wheels are in motion for a CBA return. A reboot is being mapped out and a Juniors Tournament is pegged to signal the regional-based grassroots basketball tournament’s return soon. From there, Maceda and the company plan to incrementally breathe life into other divisions tailored for the Youth and the Senior levels. Further, a volleyball version is also on the roadmap. Games will be held around the metro before expanding to other regions.

Would it make sense?

Given that there are a lot of tournaments being held at the moment, it will be a challenge for the CBA to start once more. While that is a given, it will be the purpose of the league that will be in focus.

Some may see players participating in other leagues possibly joining one of the regional teams. There will be familiar and popular names and fans may hardly give the revived league attention. But then again, the focus is not plainly on these top cagers.

The focus will be on the overlooked basketball aspirants, giving them a chance to rise and show how good they are. They could be new faces or some who have not been given ample playing time. However, that opportunity will rest on the shoulders of the coaching staff of each team.

The Challenge

The CBA group will be in for quite a challenge trying to catch up with other leagues who have relentlessly resorted to ways to outdo the other. Given the long hiatus, normalizing things will not be easy.

But again, the league is bent on sticking to its mantra of being a breeding ground. The Philippines is home to aspiring and promising basketball players, some deprived of the chance to show what they have.

Aside from that, promoting sports as an alternative to direct every Filipino to a healthy lifestyle is one of the major visions of the CBA. Hence, rebooting the CBA is not the only initiative of Maceda and his group. The league is also about partnering with every player as they pick up the pieces after the pandemic. Some are getting their chance with other leagues and the Community Basketball Association is bent on helping them get back on track and potentially reach their basketball dream.