Public schools eyed in new Escandor Cup

WITH the thrust of providing an avenue for public school teams, a reformatted Escandor Cup dubbed as "Escandor Cup 2017 Inter-Public High School Under 14 Basketball Tournament" will unfurl on November 11 in a still undetermined venue.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) 11 executive program officer Ronel Leuterio, in a recent SBP meeting at The Royal Mandaya Hotel Kamayo, said they designed a new concept of the league to give opportunity to public school players since in in recent years, private school teams were prioritized.

"Ganitong concept natin para bigyan naman sila (public school) ng exposure kasi wala naman silang gaanong avenue," he said.

SBP city commissioner Oscar Salvador said they invited Davao City National High School, Bernardo Carpio National High School, Daniel R. Aguinaldo High School, Sta. Ana National High School, Dr. Santiago Dacudao National High School, Pablo Lorenzo National High School, Duterte National High School, Jesus Soriano National High School, Cabantian National High School, Carmen Denia national High School, Nograles National High School, Maa National High School, Mabini National High School, Crossing Bayabas National High School and F. Bustamante National High School.

These teams will be provided with free uniforms in the free-registration cagefest sponsored by businessman Glenn Escandor, also the SBP regional director.

Leuterio, meanwhile, designed a semi-passarelle format that will allow each team to field 20 players.

Each team must field three different sets of players in each quarter from first to third period with no substitution. But in the fourth quarter, the teams will be allowed substitution and even mix their players.

Leuterio will also hold a coaches meeting on October 23 to discuss the format and rules, among other concerns. ABM