By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After a successful JB Amateur Basketball League (JB ABL) Elite Division Season II, the prized Iloilo City-based sports league headed by commissioner Jayphet Balbacal is set to bring the ‘Barangay take over’ for the upcoming young Ilonggo ballers.
JB ABL will cater to the Ilonggo kids and teenagers and can join in two different categories: the brgy. take over 1-on-1 king and the three-on-three kings.
Commissioner Balbacal explained that this ‘barangay take over’ league will feature selected barangays in Iloilo City and only residents within that place can join.
Aside from giving joy to the Ilonggos through the basketball competition, commissioner Balbacal also emphasized the importance of the grass-roots level program and the chance for other potential ballers to shine and take the spotlight.
“Gamay nga kasadya para sa aton nga mga kabataan sa Iloilo City. The JB ABL barangay take over 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 hiwatun sa taga barangay sang syudad, circuit style. After sang isa ka barangay, ma deretso naman ta sa isa, so on and so forth. Luwas sa pag hatag oportunidad sa mga kabataan nga nahuya, this project also aims to find more local talents sa patag sang basketball,” said commissioner Balbacal in an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.
JB ABL will have its debut conference at Brgy. Tabuc Suba today and will kick off at 1:00 in the afternoon.
After Brgy. Tabuc Suba, JB ABL will then visit barangays Democracia and Bantud for the second and third conferences and is yet to announce what venues will complete the first season.
“Ga-an ta naman spotlight kag tani makita man sa iban nga tawo ang naka tago nga basketball skills sang iban da sa barangay. Chance na ni sang mga aspiring kids sa pamaagi sang barangay take over pra may maka discover sa ila and who knows amo pa ni ang stepping stone sa ila pag angat sa sport,” added Balbacal.
