All System Go for Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup

Araw ng Kagitingan feels more special for the Visayas and Mindanao region this year as the first ever professional basketball league for their people is about to tip-off on April 9 in Alcantara, Cebu inside a bubble environment.

The seven teams seeing action in the Visayas leg of the league are ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu Heroes, Dumaguete Warriors, KCS Mandaue Computer Specialist, MJAS Zenith Talisay Aquastars, Siquijor Mystics, Tabogon Voyagers, and Tubigon Bohol Mariners.

Each team has 6 home grown players (3 from the province that his team represents and 3 from any other city in the Visayas and Mindanao region). As a rule, the league imposes that at least one of these home grown talents be in the playing court every time during the game. Teams are allowed up to a 20-man line-up for any case of injuries or COVID related issues. Meanwhile, all players of the league have a Uniformed Players Contract (UPC) to protect themselves for any contract issues.

All coaches, players, utilities, and league officials were all tested negative in the swab test result as of Tuesday, April 6. Moreover, the league has also prepared its health and safety measure in coordination with the local government unit of Alcantara. Each team has its own safety officer and there will be a daily health checklist for each individual. An isolation facility is also set up for any unfortunate case of positive to anyone inside the bubble.

In line with its health protocols, any individual caught and proven to violate any protocol will be immediately be kicked out of the bubble and be slapped with a P50,000 fine. It is a stiff and strict rule to instill discipline among the participants in the bubble.

The Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup took the pro-route in the midst of the pandemic as the government, back then, only allows professional leagues to resume action and to protect the players and teams as there will be Games and Amusement Board to go to in case of any problems with their contracts.

Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Chief Operating Officer Rocky Chan said that all necessary agencies and departments in the region gave their approval to start the bubble tournament. He also reiterated that the league is here to provide livelihood to people greatly affected by the pandemic, and provide entertainment to Filipinos thru basketball.

The league will have a pre-recorded and simple opening ceremony where only 3-5 members of each team will join. Games will be aired live on the official Facebook page of Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup with delayed national telecast thru Solar Sports.

Images from the official Facebook page of Pilipinas VisMin Super cup