CEBU CITY-- Sinag Asya Sports Management & Promotions, also known as Sinag Liga Asya (SLA) to spotlight Cebu as host to the 2026 SLA Jr. World Showcase, a basketball tournament featuring 50 elite junior teams from the Philippines and abroad set to happen in Cebu on July 1 to 5, 2026.
“This is more than just a tournament. We are expecting a huge crowd from the local and foreign participating teams including the United Prep Canada, led by head coach Tony Tan; Teams from the United States, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Austria, and the United Kingdom and local teams from the Philippines, including squads from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” said Rocky Chan, SLA chairman at the press conference Wednesday, February 18 at Treewoods Residences, Apas, Cebu City.
Chan added that the tournament features different age categories, including Under-13, U-15, U-17, U-19, and U-21 divisions. Games are played across four major venues in Metro Cebu with the historic Cebu Coliseum to host the grand opening ceremony on July 1, where participating teams are expected to march in a colorful parade symbolizing unity and sportsmanship.
The succeeding five days (July 1-5) games are played at the Cebu Coliseum, Magnum Sports Complex, Sawang Calero Sports Complex and in Mandaue Sports Complex. “It’s an opportunity for young athletes to experience international competition at an early stage and build friendships beyond borders,” Chan added.
Chan said the SLA Jr. World Showcase event aims to provide a platform for young basketball talents to showcase their skills and compete with international teams; promote grassroots basketball development in the Philippines and abroad; foster sports tourism and cultural exchange among participating teams and provide opportunities for young athletes to compete and gain exposure.
Meanwhile, EJ Fiehl, Deputy Commissioner and JWS Tournament Director revealed that the status of basketball in remote barangays indicates a desire to build and develop players and efforts are being made to build and train players, with a focus on creating a new basketball system.
“There are still challenges but also greater opportunities in developing basketball talent in remote areas, and we appreciate the efforts being made to support basketball in the country, especially coming mostly from the private sector,” Fiehl said.
Cebu as a global stage for sports tourism
Billed as one of the most anticipated grassroots tournaments of the year, the SLA Jr. World Showcase brings together young athletes from across the country and various countries abroad, reinforcing Cebu’s standing as a premier sports tourism destination, said Rey Alao, President, SLA during the February 18 press conference in Cebu City.
Alao noted that the five-day tournament is expected to provide a global platform for rising basketball prospects to showcase their skills against international competition. Organizers emphasized that beyond the trophies and medals, the event seeks to promote sports development, discipline, and cultural exchange among the youth.
The event also aligns with broader efforts to strengthen grassroots basketball programs and inspire the next generation of Filipino athletes, Alao added that with its deep basketball culture and strong community support, Cebu provides the perfect backdrop for an event of this magnitude.
Local government representatives and the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the region reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the tournament’s success, highlighting its potential impact on local businesses, hospitality, and tourism sectors.
“We are very optimistic that the SLA Jr. World
Showcase 2026 will not only deliver high-level competition but also leave a
lasting legacy for youth basketball development in the region. Cebu, in the next five days on July 1 to 5
becomes the global court, where young dreamers compete, cultures connect, and
the future of basketball shines brightly under the Sinag Liga Asya banner,” Rocky
Chan concluded. (Photos: MBCNewman)
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