Tracer Study on the Careers and Achievements of BCU and PHILCST Varsity Basketball Players

This tracer study explores the career trajectories, professional achievements, and post-athletic challenges faced by former varsity basketball players from Baguio Central University (BCU) and the Philippine College of Science and Technology (PHILCST). The primary aim is to assess how collegiate basketball experiences influenced the respondents’ employment status, career development, and integration into the professional world after graduation. The study involved 25 respondents: 15 from BCU and 10 from PHILCST, selected using convenience sampling. A self-constructed, validated questionnaire and informal interviews were used to gather quantitative and qualitative data. Using a descriptive mixed- methods design, findings revealed that varsity experience significantly contributed to the development of soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, time management, and communication. However, notable differences between institutions were observed: BCU alumni reported strong agreement that basketball improved their employability but also faced challenges such as financial instability, identity loss, and insufficient career guidance. In contrast, PHILCST alumni generally disagreed with experiencing such challenges, attributing smoother transitions to their institution’s technical-vocational orientation. The study concludes that institutional support plays a pivotal role in athlete career transition. It recommends enhanced career services, mental health counseling, alumni tracking, and flexible sports engagement programs. The ultimate output of this research is a matrix of targeted, institution-specific program recommendations to strengthen varsity basketball programs and post-athletic career development.