MMBL still alive and kicking at 31
High School basketball continues to thrive in the country, thanks to the many tournaments that showcase the best junior ballers in the land. Among the longest-running junior hoops league is the Metro Manila Basketball League, better known as MMBL, where several local basketball icons like Benjie Paras have strut their stuff.
Today, the MMBL, to be dubbed the Seaoil Metro Manila Basketball League, opens its 31st Season at the San Beda College Sports Center in Mendiola, Manila. No less than legendary high school coach Edmundo “Ato” Badolato founded this tournament in 1982, with original members Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle Zobel, La Salle Greenhills, San Beda College, Arellano University, Mapua, UNO High School and the then Perpetual Help College of Rizal.
“We’ve grown from having seven or eight teams to now having over 50 schools participating. And this is the second consecutive year where we are having a girls’ division where eight schools will be competing,” said Badolato, who also serves as league commissioner.
National University coach Eric Altamirano, Program Director of the Seaoil National Basketball Training Center, said that, as the official grassroots program of the SBP, their efforts to promote and grow the sport of basketball would be difficult without the sponsorship of the oil company. “Seaoil is proud to partner with the Metro Manila Basketball League (MMBL) and is committed to sponsor the MMBL for the next four years. Coach Alex Compton and I believe that with this long-term partnership with Seaoil, it will greatly benefit more players and coaches especially the schools in the NCR. This would assure the presence of NCR in the National High School Championship. They will also be joined by the champion teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao," said Altamirano.
Today’s opening games feature De La Salle Zobel facing Chiang Kai Shek at 8am and St. Benilde International School tangling with Reedley International at 2:15pm at the San Beda Gym. Defending Division II champion Faith Academy plays Valenzuela Christian Academy at 11:30am at the Faith Academy gym in Valley Golf, Antipolo. International School Manila hopes to score a victory at home against King’s Montessori School in their gym at Bonifacio Global City, also at 11:30am.
The MMBL games will be held on weekends at the Faith Academy Gym in Valley Golf, Antipolo, International School of Manila gym at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, San Beda College Gym in Manila and Xavier School Gym in San Juan, Manila.
This year’s tournament will be participated by Adamson University, Ateneo, Hope Christian School, Far Eastern University, Malayan Institute of Technology, University of Santo Tomas, Our Lady of Fatima, University of Perpetual Help, Chiang Kai Shek, De La Salle Zobel, Emilio Aguinaldo College, National University, San Beda College, Letran College, University of the Philippines Integrated School, Xavier School, Faith Academy, International School Manila, King’s Montessori, St. Stephen High School, Valenzuela Christian School, Diliman Prep, Lourdes School Mandaluyong, St. Jude Catholic School, San Beda College Alabang, UNO High School, Escuela de Sophia Caloocan, Marist School, Southridge School, Trinity University, Colegio San Benildo Rizal, De La Salle Lipa, Reedley International, St. Benilde International School, St. Thomas More Academy, Espiritu Santo Parochial School, St. James Academy Malabon, St. Dominic College, Jubilee Christian Academy, La Salle College Antipolo, Quezon City Science High School, DLSU Integrated School, Rich Golden Shower Montessori, Caritas Don Bosco, Colegio San Agustin Binan, La Salle Greenhills, St. Michael College Laguna and The Seed Montessori.
