Elite Lab Iloilo unveils developmental basketball league this December

One of Western Visayas’ most prominent grassroots basketball programs will give young, talented Ilonggo hoopers an early Christmas treat.

Elite Lab, the most successful Iloilo City-based hoops program in the past five years, will launch its inaugural developmental basketball league on Dec. 18, 2026, at the St. Robert’s International College of Iloilo gymnasium in Jaro, Iloilo City.

According to Elite Lab’s team manager, Eugene Chua, the league’s core mission is to serve as an avenue for young basketball talents who have been flying under the radar of Iloilo City’s big leagues.

It will feature three age categories: 11-and-under, 13-and-under, and 15-and-under, which, according to Chua, are age brackets not usually included in most developmental basketball leagues.

“Usually, waki ini nga mga age bracket sa school-based, so that’s why these kids barely play in the school-based tournaments. We will give them a chance here sa aton liga,” Chua said in an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.

Aside from giving these kids more exposure, Chua talked about Elite Lab’s goal of becoming a stepping stone for athletes who wish to earn school scholarships through varsity basketball.

“Who knows sa liga naton may maka discover sa ila,” Chua added.

“Then what comes with it, ma sunod na na ang offers sang schools kag kung tagaan sila scholarship then dako nga bulig sa pamilya.”

George Serapia, the league’s tournament commissioner, announced that they will enforce a no-zone defense format so that developing talents can further hone their individual defensive skills.

“I think other leagues nag try man sang sini nga format, but we will be strictly imposing the no-zone, para mas ma hasa ang bata kag mag go hard every defensive possession,” Serapia said in an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.

Chua and the rest of Elite Lab, spearheaded by the father-and-daughter tandem of Jun and Moi Layson, added that they are proud to welcome public schools to the league.

“Malipay gid kami and we encourage public schools to join. Malay nyo ma scout ang mga kabataan, kag maka bulig ini sa pag eskwela nila sa ulihi,” Chua explained.