Dadivas: More than just a showcase of basketball in Roxas City

ROXAS City — The Roxas City Invitational Tournament 2026 is proving to be more than a showcase of basketball, with nearly 80 referees stepping into the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center for a clinic designed  to sharpen their skills and deepen their understanding of the game.

For tournament executive director Miggy Dadivas, developing basketball in Roxas City means developing everyone who helps shape the sport — from the players who dream of making it big to the referees who make sure every game is played fairly.

The clinic, held in Roxas City, the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines” and one of Western Visayas’ emerging sports destinations, drew referees from different schools and municipalities.

Organizers initially expected just over 30 participants. 

Instead, the turnout swelled to around 80, reflecting the growing appetite among local officials to learn and improve.

The referees actively participated in the sessions, receiving instruction on FIBA rules and the finer points of modern officiating from referees with FIBA and international experience.

Dadivas said the exposure was particularly important for officials whose experience had largely been shaped by learning from fellow referees.

“It’s very good that at least we got to upskill them and equip them with more tools, especially in FIBA rules,” Dadivas said.

For the local referees, the clinic offered something that cannot always be gained from simply watching or working games the chance to learn from people who regularly operate under international standards.

But the lessons inside the civic center were only one part of a bigger vision.

The tournament has also opened its doors to grassroots activities for young players, with the organizers looking at sports development as a long-term investment rather than a one-week competition.

Dadivas said the aim is to create an environment where young athletes can grow while giving referees the knowledge and confidence to raise the quality of competition at the local level.

The vision does not end with basketball.

More sports clinics are being eyed for Roxas City, with volleyball, badminton, gymnastics and boxing among those being considered.

“This will not be the last, and this will not be the only sport. We will bring more to Roxas City,” Dadivas said.

In a city better known for its seafood than its sporting stages, the  tournament is quietly building something bigger — a culture where competition is matched by learning, and where the next generation of athletes and officials can find a place to begin.