The Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has finally allowed the resumption of training by college student athletes in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ). However, the specific guidelines from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is yet to be released.
This is a very good news for student athletes who have been unable to play basketball, much less train, in the past seven (7) months. It means that they can now play scrimmages in preparation for their respective tournaments. As we all know it's very important for athletes to maintain a high level of conditioning and be in top shape to remain competitive.
The recent pronouncement by the IATF-EID is likewise timely since college basketball has been put in the limelight lately, although for the wrong reasons. To recall, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers held a bubble training in Sorsogon in spite of the prohibitions against basketball training.
The sudden departure of former king Tiger CJ Cansino from the team had exposed the said illegal bubble training. After an intensive investigation, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Board of Trustees had slapped an indefinite ban against Coach Aldin Ayo.
One of those affected by the suspension of basketball games since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last March 2020 was Bling Murillo, a 5'9 guard from the Centro Escolar University (CEU) Scorpions. Since the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) where the CEU Scorpions are competing was suspended, Bling Murillo went home to his hometown in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon to wait for the return of normalcy.
With so much time to spare, Bling Murillo thought of a project which would allow him to use his talents for the benefit of his fellow youth in Malaybalay City. The most obvious option of course was to use his basketball skills for a good cause. As expected, Bling Murillo established a basketball clinic to teach young hoopers with the fundamentals of basketball in a safe manner.
"It all started when I have to go back here in my hometown because of the pandemic. When I started to spend time here, I was able to realize that there a lot of young talents that has potential and the timing was just perfect since I was invited by Tyrants basketball of Manila to handle the camp here in Bukidnon, said Bling Murillo in a chat interview with Ligang Pinoy."
For Bling Murillo, he just wanted to help those young talents who share the same basketball dream. He wants to impart all of his knowledge and learnings about basketball as well as his experiences.
"I want them to experience what I have experienced from the drills I got in all schools I attended, added Bling Murillo."
For those who are not familiar with Bling Murillo, he gained valuable training and playing years not just in the UCBL but also in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals and the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League (PBA D-League) for the CEU scorpions. With his extensive training under different coaches and systems, he is definitely qualified to be a trainor.
Bling Murillo aims to grow his basketball team so that many young talents will have access to professional training in order to develop and achieve their full potential. Who knows, his basketball team may produce future basketball standouts whom he can recommend to some major colleges and universities. Such golden opportunity will not only give them a viable path to the professional leagues but also full academic scholarship that will enable them to earn college degrees.
Bling Murillo has teamed up with his former coach during his elementary days, Coach Erick Dompor, to run the clinic. Head of the team is Coach Erick Dompor, my coach since Elementary. The team will be based permanently in Bukidnon and everyone is welcome to join and train as long as they are dedicated to become a professional basketball player.
"Here, we treat each other like a family, a friend, a brother. The feeling of helping those children is so good; seeing them working hard, listening and following your instructions attentively and you can see that they really want to learn."
Make no mistake, Bling Murillo is not yet done with his collegiate career. He is still twenty (20) years old and has a bright future ahead of him.
Like the thousands of other young hoopers all over the Philippines, Bling Murillo wants to play in the big leagues in the Philippines such as the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and the PBA. It helps that CEU has produced talented guards and basketball players who are now mainstays in the MPBL.
It includes Aaron Jeruta of the Iloilo Royals, Ryan Batino of the Bataan Risers, and Jason Opiso of the Pasay Voyagers among others. Definitely, Bling Murillo wants to be added on the list.
"Gusto ko maglaro sa MPBL para maipakita ko yung talent ko at para ma dagdagan yung experience ko sa pag lalaro at para ma represent ko yung lugar ko kung saan ako pinanganak, stressed Bling Murillo."
Who wouldn't want to play in the MPBL when it is the biggest basketball league in the Philippines in terms of the number of participating squads. From just ten (10) teams in its inaugural season, the league has grown to twenty-six (26) in the Datu Cup the thirty-one (31) in the most recent season or the Lakan Cup. The home-and-away format of the MPBL similar to the National Basketball Association (NBA) in America has proven to be a hit since home games have filled arenas especially in the provinces.
Unfortunately, Bling Murillo's home province of Bukidnon does not have a team in the MPBL. It would be a dream come true for him to play in front of his hometown fans. Be that at is may, Bling Murillo can contribute to any team who may acquire his services in the future.
"Bigay ko lang yung best ko at yung pagiging point guard sa loob nang court."
We expect nothing less from Bling Murillo. At this point, he just wants to focus on the present circumstances. He wants to thank God for giving him talent, his family for all the love and his parents for their utmost support to him and his siblings.
You might also want to read the story of other aspirants:
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