Cebu basketball: "Tough and we don't back down from anyone."

Fearless and unrelenting, these are the words that often come to mind when one speaks of the Cebuano brand of basketball.

And the proof is in the pudding, thanks to the giant-sized footsteps left behind by some of the most distinguished basketball players the country has ever seen — Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Arnie Tuadles, Dondon Hontiveros, just to name a few — which are now being traced by today’s generation of Bisaya ballers.

“I was raised on stories of how physical the Cebuano brand of basketball was and still is,” says current Cebu Shark big man, William McAloney.

No slouch when it comes to banging bodies and exchanging elbows himself, McAloney says he enjoys listening to tales told by his current coach, Noynoy Falcasantos of how the game was played back then.

“He told us that the ball was treated like gold in that you really had to protect it with everything you had,” adds McAloney. “Cebuanos are tough and if we play with that kind of mindset in every game, we will be very tough to beat.”

Roger Ray Pogoy, who is one of the vanguards of this new batch of Cebuano players who are making names for themselves in the PBA, says there is always a price to pay when playing against Cebuanos, no matter what level of basketball the game is being played. From recreational leagues to semi-pro competitions all the way to the pro league, Cebuanos play highly-physical basketball and opponents must be ready for it.

“Cebu basketball is really more on the physical side. They are really tough and they don’t back down from anyone,” says Talk N Text’s gunner.

Bataan Risers guard Joseph Airo Nalos, relays that Cebuanos who are playing in Manila, are like sharks in the water, sensing fear from the opponents they cross paths with.           

“It’s different when players here in Manila know you are a Cebuano. May konting ilang kasi they know that Cebuanos won’t get beaten so easily. We don’t like to lose,” says Nalos.

Former CESAFI Most Valuable Player and current University of the Philippines Fighting Maroon Jaybie Mantilla says Cebuano basketball is all about not giving up, regardless of the odds.

“Cebu basketball is different especially when it comes to competing because we just don’t know how or when to quit. We don’t know how to give up. We have a lot of talented basketball players who I hope would get the opportunity to play on the big stage,” said Mantilla.

(Photo courtesy of PBA Images)