Baldwin, Altamirano to grace PSSBC rites

MANILA, Philippines — A pair of UAAP champion coaches has been invited by league organizers to provide additional star power in the opening ceremony of the sixth Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) Dickies Underwear Cup on Sunday at the Chiang Kai Shek College gym.

American-Kiwi mentor Tab Baldwin, who recently steered Ateneo back to the throne at the expense of archrival La Salle, and local counterpart Eric Altamirano, who led National University to the Promised Land in 2014, are expected to motivate the rising stars.

 “We’re excited to have two champion coaches who have made a name for themselves in the local basketball scene. Their presence will be enough to give our players and our coaches as well enough motivation to do well,” said league chairman Rudy Yu of Dickies Underwear.

Aside from having the chance to impart their vast knowledge of the sport, Baldwin and Altamirano will have an up-close look on the country’s top ballers coming from 12 finest high school programs led by reigning UAAP champion Far Eastern University-Diliman and new NCAA titleholder La Salle-Greenhills.

“This tournament has been the breeding ground of future stars, both in the UAAP and the NCAA. So we’re very proud that we’re able to help the development of our high school players in our own little way,” said Poly Gloss owner Terry Que, one of the league’s godfathers and a proud member of the Board of Governors.

Also seeing action in the six-day tourney which dangles P50,000 in cash and a trophy for the eventual champion are former titlists Hope Christian High School, San Beda and Chiang Kai Shek.

NU, San Sebastian College, University of Santo Tomas, Letran, Mapua, Manila Patriotic School and CESAFI champion University of Visayas are also in the hunt, assuring a wide open race for the bragging rights as the country’s best high school team.