By RICKIE SANTOS
THE recently-concluded 39th Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament held in Davao City was, for the most part, interesting. The four-day tourney saw three PBA teams and one collegiate team competing.
Local pocket tournaments usually involve teams of the same level - pros vs pros, college teams vs college teams. The Davao hoopfest was different in composition and it revealed two things: One, De La Salle proved it has a strong basketball team. Two, despite its format and short duration, the games were exciting.
The success of the tournament also raised one possibility: Is it time to revive the National Seniors or National Open championship?
READ Rain or Shine repeats over La Salle to win Davao tournament
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas appears to be the one that has the resources and the clout do it. If not, then maybe some other interested parties. But the SBP should take the lead. When it was still known as the BAP or Basketball Association of the Philippines, it held an annual National Open. And it was popular, tightly fought and the championship was highly-coveted.
A new National Open competition should have teams from PBA, MPBL, PSL, UAAP, NCAA and NAASCU at the onset.
In a chat with PSL commissioner Allan Caidic, he said a resurrected National Open is a welcome development. However, he's not sure if teams will buy into it, particularly, the pros.
“Reviving the National Seniors or Open is a good idea to polish the skills of our collegiate players. But what good will it bring professional players?” said Caidic, who starred for the University of the East in the UAAP before joining the PBA where he also became a star.
He believed pro teams would prefer to play against fellow professionals, and more particularly, with foreign teams, if they plan to sharpen their skills before the start of a season.
During the Davao tournament, DLSU beat two PBA teams, but Rain or Shine put things in order with a 22-point mauling of the Green Archers in the championship game. Still, many netizens believe the pros learned a thing or two from their games against the Green Archers who beat PBA teams Converge and Phoenix to reach the final. And that may be enough reason for some pro teams to join tournaments with college teams or teams from other leagues.
What could be the ideal setup if the National Open is revived?
Top PBA teams surely don't need the exposure, but those at the bottom rung can use the tournament to test their new playbook. Amateur teams, on one hand, can learn how the mind of pros work and also get to play with players much better than them. To avoid dull mismatches, amateur teams must be reigning champions or considered the best in their leagues.
The right scheduling must also be considered. Teams must be in the offseason and are training for the coming season. And the tournament should not last more than eight days. Short duration means intense basketball.
READ La Salle upsets Phoenix to take down yet another PBA team
To draw a crowd, the important games can be brought to the provinces, especially if it involves a team from outside Metro Manila, for instance, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns playing in their home court in San Fernando.
If things fall into place, Caidic said, “I think this will interest basketball fans.”
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