Top collegiate squads banner Pinoyliga
It’s green and go for a total of 18 teams that will answer the call when Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup unveils its third edition on 6 April at the Alonte Sports Center in Biñan, Laguna.
Reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball champion La Salle and National Collegiate Athletic Association counterpart San Beda lead the stacked up cast seeing action in the three-month long tournament as announced by Pinoyliga chief executive officer and founder Benny Benitez in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.
Joining the Green Archers and the Red Lions are the Adamson Falcons, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, Far Eastern University Tamaraws, National University Bulldogs, University of the East Red Warriors, Mapua Cardinals, Lyceum Pirates, and Perpetual Help Altas, while two teams outside of the UAAP and NCAA in Enderun Titans and Guang Ming College in Tagaytay.
Still for confirmation are the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, Arellano Chiefs, Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers, San Sebastian Stags, Our Lady of Fatima, and defending Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup champion Ateneo Blue Eagles.
The semifinals and the finals are both knockout games.
The pre-season meet features mostly the Team A of the participating collegiate teams, said Benitez in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, PLDT/Smart, MILO, and the leading sports entertainment gateway in the Philippines, ArenaPlus.
“There’s a lot of ‘A’ players that will see action. At the same time, there’s also the opportunity not only to gauge your team but also your (new) recruit,” Benitez added.
Games will be played every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at the Enderun College gymnasium, although other venues are also being considered such as the Emilio Aguinaldo College and gymnasiums which can hold bigger audiences.
“We’re also looking out for bigger venues because there are sponsors who would like to support the big games that we have and they’re looking for us to hold it on big venues,” Benitez said.
The teams will be divided into two groups, with the top teams in each bracket advancing outright to the semis.
The three lowest ranked teams are eliminated outright, while teams which finished at nos. 3-6 will engage in the quarter-finals, with two higher ranked squads enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage.
The semifinals and the finals are both knockout games.
Ateneo beat NU in a thrilling finale last year, 65-63, to win the championship at the Villar Coliseum in Las Piñas.