A new basketball league powered by Wednesday Group is set to open this July 2018, and every “Ball Is Lifers”are all excited.
A veteran player and coach of various commercial leagues, Andrew Bantug, the brainchild of Drew League Pilipinas decided that its time to have his own league with the objective of providing a professional and organized basketball league that caters to players from different parts of the city.
“Sa first season, 12 teams muna ang para ang kasali para matutukan muna kasi may mga iba pang division na papasok. Halos karamihan sa Drew League, players na mga taga Makati. Pero meron din taga iba’t-ibang lugar na sumali.”said Bantug, more popularly known as Coach Drew or Uncle Drew. “Asahan nila sa Drew League na masusulit ang bayad nila sa entry fee dahil pipilitin talaga natin mapaganda ang liga. Photos, videos, and tung committee natin yun ang tututukan ko para lahat ng sasali masulit ang bada vila “added Bantug.
Being a regular competitor in various commercial leagues, Uncle Drew is no stranger to what the players want when it comes to joining basketball leagues. “Matagal na rin ako sumasali sa mga commercial leagues. Blessed ako kasi marami na din akong beses na nag-champion both as a player and as a coach. Napansin ko na may mga kulang pa din yung ibang liga in terms of pagpapatakbo and organization kaya naisip ko na ako mismo ang bumuo ng liga. Malaking factor yung experience ko sa pagsali sa mga liga kasi yung mga nakikita ko na pwedeng improbe, ako mismo sa Drew League Pilipinas gagawin ko.” said Bantug.
At an early age, Bantug has been exposed in the sport of basketball coming from a family of basketball players. But it was under the tutelage of Engineer Jess de Leon, who is considered The Godfather of Wednesday Basketball, that made Uncle Drew decide to organize Drew League Pilipinas. Through Wednesday Basketball Group, Engr. Jess de Leon has provided a basketball group that enabled players like Roy Cayanan, Kako Morales, Mark Angelo Samonte, Bhabap Sta. Maria, just to name a few, to hone their skills that helped them to be in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
“Si Engr. Jess, sya ang pinaka Tatay ng Wednesday Basketball. Ang daming players na nakasama at kasama pa din namin hanggang ngayon sa grupo. Every Wednesday pa din yung ensayo namin and malaki ang pasasalamat ko at ng mga kasama namin sa Wednesday Group Basketball kasi nandyan magi ang suporta nya sa amin. Pati sa ligang ito, malaki ang pasasalamat ko kasi malaki ang tulong ni Engr. sa pag buo ng liga.”said Bantug.
Drew League Pilipinas, is also supported by LGR Athletic Wears, Inc. with MNLToday.ph as media partner, has created a league rule and policy to ensure fairness and competitiveness of each team. Even Wednesday Basketball Group players who are joining the first season has been distributed to the participating teams.
Expect an action packed basketball games as Drew League Pilipinas tips off this July. For more details, visit https://www.facebook.com/DrewLeaguePilipinas/ or you may contact Coach Drew at 0915-7189298.
