First Superliga collegiate tournament set to fire off

THE PHILIPPINE Superliga (PSL) is set to add further wing when it rolls out its first collegiate tournament in November.

Featuring some of the top college teams in the land, the PSL is hailing the about-to-start tournament as “another action-packed battle” among the country’s brightest collegiate players in preparation for their potential career in the semi-professional league.

So far, a total of six teams, namely, University of the Philippines (UP), Far Eastern University, University of the East (UE), University of Santo Tomas (UST), De La Salle UniversityDasmariñas and Colegio San Agustin (Biñan selection), have confirmed to join the inaugural tourney, the PSL had announced.

“We want to explore the possibility of having a strong collegiate league,” said Philip Ella Juico, PSL chairman, as he spoke of the decision to stage the PSL Collegiate Grand Slam (CGS).

“We have six teams in our inaugural conference. But we expect more college squads to join as soon as we get this tournament off the ground,” added the PSL chair, a former Philippine Sports Commission chairman and president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association.

While the PSL is no longer a stranger to hosting collegiate teams with its invitational tournaments, the CGS however will mark the first time that the league will have a division solely dedicated to the country’s young and up-and-coming players.

The league said PSL rules will also be applied in the CGS and teams will be given a chance to use the challenge system to make sure that the officiating will be at par with international standard.

The PSL will raise its curtain on Oct. 30, but the CGS and formal opening ceremony will be held on Nov. 3 at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The tournament will be played every Saturday and will be shown live in the league’s official broadcast partner in ESPN5, AksyonTV and sports5.ph. —