THE National Basketball League-Isolation Basketball Championship (NBL-IBC) 1v1 league seeks to develop well-rounded players even amidst the pandemic that put a halt to sports in the country.
A launch is set to be held on Saturday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga with eight matches – five in the women’s and three in the men’s – to introduce the novel format of basketball.
The match-ups were determined based on weight with action in the welterweight, featherweight, lightweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight to be held in the launch event.
NBL executive vice president Rhose Montreal said during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum that the league together with IBC led by president Justin Tan aim to innovate basketball during the pandemic.
“Since we are still drafting the best possible protocol to begin the 5-on-5 league, why not start slowly and develop well-rounded athletes, meaning you just can’t be a center, you can’t be a rebounder, a forward or a guard,” Montreal said.
“Kapag dito sa one-on-one, in Tagalog, ‘yung famous word na pang-sakalam. Pang-malakasan talaga. It will really bring out if you are conditioned or not to play basketball,” she added.

WNBL 1v1 commissioner Haydee Ong said the format will once again provide another avenue for women’s ballers to showcase their talents.
The match between former national team member Allana Lim and Snow Peñaranda will serve as the main event in Saturday’s action with strict health and safety protocols to be implemented under the supervision of the Games and Amusements’ Board.
“This is the first women’s professional basketball league. Talagang everybody is excited. Lahat ito, first for us. This is another platform to showcase the women’s talents in basketball. I think inaabangan ng lahat itong WNBL and I hope everybody could watch,” said Ong.
“We will showcase talaga ‘yung skills and talent ng mga atleta natin for 1v1,” she added.
NBL 1v1 commissioner Jerry Codiñera believes players being divided into weight categories will equal the field.
“It’s a challenge din na pwede ka rin talunin ng small guy but kasing bigat lang kayo. It’s really exciting. Diskartihan ang laban,” Codiñera said.
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