News & Updates

CTR Basketball Team Ready to Defend Their Title vs Cebuano Collegiate Stars

The CTR Basketball Team is set to face the Cebuano collegiate all-stars for the second consecutive year on December 27, 2024, at the Cokaliong Towers. After their victorious debut last year, CTR aims to defend their throne, but head coach Paul Joven acknowledges the challenge ahead, citing an even stronger lineup for the All-Stars this time around.

Founded by Chase Cokaliong, the event is now in its second year. The goal? To provide a platform for young players to showcase their skills and compete at a high level. Participating players will also receive gift rewards as a token of appreciation for their efforts.

In an interview with ALL-STAR, CTR head coach Paul Joven explained the significance of the event.

“Bottom line, with this kind of event, the founder just wanted to showcase Cebu talent,” said Joven. “There’s an article before that said the best basketball players come from Cebu and Pampanga. Personally, I believe this. You can see a lot of Bisaya players across the country, and we cannot discount the fact that if there’s Bisaya talent, even at a young age, they will be scouted and recruited to play for Cebu or Manila.”

Beyond the competition, Joven highlighted the event’s deeper purpose of fostering relationships and sharing blessings.

Image: Chase Tower Runs | Facebook


“Besides showcasing Cebu’s talent, Chase just wants to share his blessings with all the players who join our Basketball Elite Club in Cebu. For many of them, basketball is not just a passion but a livelihood,” he said.

Joven emphasized the camaraderie the event promotes, adding:


“We’re more than just basketball. We are friends and teammates helping each other. We may not join every tournament we’re invited to, but through the support of Chase Cokaliong and other OG members like Jason Arquisola and Samsam Gullas, we ensure that the monetary blessings we receive are shared with communities and members facing challenges in life.”

2023 MVP Reflects on Last Year’s Success

Miguel Gastador, the MVP of the 2023 CTR vs. Cebuano All-Stars game, shared his memorable experience from last year.
“Last year’s Christmas league with CTR was very memorable because it was the first season for CTR, and we won as the first champions,” he said.

Being named Finals MVP was a significant achievement for Gastador, who credited his success to hard work and team support.
“I’m honored that my efforts were recognized as Finals MVP. I worked hard on conditioning and focused on the league, which helped us win the championship with Team C,” he said. “The bonus and motivator was Boss Jason Arquisola doubling the prize if we won as champions.”

Gastador acknowledged the intensity of the event compared to his usual games but appreciated its friendly nature.
“This event is very different because of the stiff competition and physicality from every team due to the big pot money. But at the end of the day, we’re still all friends. That’s what CTR is,” he emphasized.

Nicknamed the “Cebuano Rocket” for his high-flying guard play and acrobatic shots, Gastador reflected on what the game taught him.
“As a competitor, you always want to play with the best. Even now that I’m working in the corporate world, I still try to stay fit and healthy to play the game we all love,” he shared.

When asked if the MVP award boosted his confidence, he responded:
“Confidence is always there. It’s more about how prepared you are physically to play against conditioned, young, talented athletes eager to showcase their skills to the country.”

For Gastador, the ultimate goal remains clear:
“The goal is always to win. That’s always been my mantra in life. But even if we lose, I don’t see it as a negative—it’s more about the lessons gained.”

He concluded with gratitude, saying:
“There wouldn’t be any Chase Tower Runs if it wasn’t for Santopapi Boss Chase Cokaliong!”