Kapit-bisig sa Basketbol
I’ve once written that there is no deeper love for basketball than by Filipinos.
Filipinos are the best basketball fans in the world. They may not be the tallest, heftiest players, but they are the best fans in the whole world. They are fierce and loyal to the core.
This love for the sport is not only for the professional leagues such as the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) or the National Basketball Association (NBA) of North America, nor for global competitions such as that of the International Basketball Federation, the Federation Internationale de Basketball or FIBA, not even for the fiercely competitive (even among fans) collegiate basketball with the UAAP or NCAA.
This adoration for basketball extends to the private and public sectors as well; and to have government agencies and private corporations play against each other, well, that is fandom at another level.
Thus, the birth of the Makabansa Basketball League or MBL, a basketball tournament involving teams from different government offices and private groups formed to promote health and wellness and foster camaraderie amongst the participants through sports.
The MBL aims to solidify partnerships in and among the public and private sectors, to better serve the public, through sportsmanship, camaraderie, and healthy competition.
Just recently, Season 3 of the MBL opened in ceremonies at the Meralco Fitness Center, reviving the inter-sectoral tournament that last saw action in 2018 with its second season.
Themed “Kapit-bisig,” Season 3 featured 14 teams from both the public and private sectors.
From the public sector we had the Office of the President, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Energy, General Trias LGU, Office of the Solicitor General, and the Philippine National Police.
The private sector was represented by leading companies such as Meralco, Metro Pacific Tollways, PLDT, and AC Energy. Smart is among the sponsors of the event.
I had the honor of leading the opening ceremonies as head of Government Relations and Public Affairs of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., and I hope that I was able to inspire the athletes with my message on the unifying power of sports.
“Sports is a very powerful tool for nation-building,” I emphasized. “Bringing together individuals from the public, private, and civil sectors creates a shared platform for cooperation, promoting mutual understanding and collective action.”
In conclusion, I said “let me share the message of the biggest sports benefactor, my Boss who has the passion, drive, and heart of an MVP — Manuel V. Pangilinan. Sports builds character; character builds a nation.”
Present also at the opening ceremonies were Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Meralco’s Atty. Oscar “Jang” Moreno Jr. who was very instrumental in bringing about the return of the MBL, Smart chief operating officer Anastacio “Boy” Martirez, PLDT-Smart head of sports Jude Turcuato, and athletes such as Paris Olympics 2024 Bronze Medalist Aira Villegas, and Team Gilas Alumni, among others.
Jude Turcuato said that “sports have a unique ability to unite people from different walks of life. The Makabansa Basketball League exemplifies how the public and private sectors can collaborate to promote teamwork, camaraderie, and nation-building. We are proud to be part of this initiative and look forward to a season filled with exciting games and meaningful connections.”
One of the highlights of the season will be the All-Star Weekend, featuring an Executive All-Star game between teams Magiting and Matapang, along with various side events such as Zumba for the ladies, clinics for children, and 3×3 games for teenagers.
During the first game-day of the season, PLDT played against the Department of Energy led by Sen. Joel Villanueva.
The MBL Season 3 will also emphasize community engagement, with the champion team granting a chosen barangay court to be painted with the Makabansa logo and distributing gifts to children. This initiative underscores the league’s commitment to giving back to the community and fostering a sense of unity and pride.
Basketball fans can catch the tournaments streamed live on Smart Sports Facebook and PusoP.com. *
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