Southern Cebu Gears Up for Inaugural Calderon Cup Youth Basketball Tournament
Hardwood action is set to ignite across southern Cebu with the official launch of the 1st Calderon Cup 21-Under Inter-town Basketball Tournament. The competition is scheduled to commence on March 21, 2026, marking a significant milestone for grassroots sports development in the region.
District-Wide Participation and Tournament Structure
Eight municipalities from Cebu's Seventh District have confirmed their participation in this two-month-long basketball spectacle. The event is a cornerstone of the Grassroots Sports Development program spearheaded by Cebu 7th District Representative Patsy Calderon. Its primary objective is to scout and nurture local athletic talent from throughout the district.
The participating teams, representing their respective local government units, are:
- Dumanjug
- Ronda
- Alcantara
- Moalboal
- Badian
- Malabuyoc
- Ginatilan
- Alegria
These squads will be divided into two competitive groups: Bracket A and Bracket B.
High-Stakes Competition Format
The organizing committee has designed an intense format to ensure every game carries maximum importance. During the elimination round, each bracket will engage in a double round-robin format, providing ample opportunity for teams to prove their mettle.
The tournament progression is as follows:
- The top-seeded teams from each bracket (A1 and B1) will secure automatic berths in the semifinals.
- The No. 2 and No. 3 seeds from the opposing brackets will battle in a crossover playoff for the remaining semifinal slots.
- In the semifinal round, the early qualifiers (A1 and B1) will face the winners of the quarterfinal matches in a knockout showdown.
- The victors will advance to a best-of-three championship series to crown the inaugural champion.
Prizes and Broader Sports Development Vision
Beyond the prestige of becoming the first-ever Calderon Cup champions, the winning team will receive trophies and substantial cash prizes. The tournament will also recognize individual excellence with awards such as:
- The Mythical Five selection
- Season's Most Valuable Player (MVP)
- Finals MVP
Congresswoman Patsy Calderon emphasized that this basketball tournament is just one component of a comprehensive grassroots sports development initiative. She revealed plans to organize similar competitions for volleyball, tennis, football, and other sporting events. This expanded program aims to create more opportunities for the youth of Cebu's Seventh District, fostering athletic talent and promoting healthy competition across multiple disciplines.
