Super League gets going Saturday
EXPECT nothing but thrilling battles when the country’s leading college and university teams vie for the crown in the inaugural Shakey’s Super League 2022 Collegiate Pre-season Championship set to unwrap on Saturday at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
This will be the first time that a tournament will feature all eight teams from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and 10 from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
“We’re very excited about this conference as we will be able to watch the best college and university teams compete before the start of their respective collegiate seasons,” said Dr. Ian Laurel, president of SSL organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management Inc. (ACES), during the league’s press conference on Saturday at the Philippine Sports Commission Hall inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
ACES chairman and CEO Philip Ella Juico, Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI) president and CEO Vicente Gregorio, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Noli Eala, coaches and team captains of participating teams were also present during the media launch.
All eyes will be on UAAP champion National University and NCAA titlist College of Saint Benilde as both squads are looking to reign supreme in the SSL following their unbeaten championship runs in their respective collegiate leagues.
But it will be a tough feat to achieve as 16 other squads are equally hungry for glory in the seasonopening conference organized in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education.
The 18 teams are divided into four groups with Pool A composed of University of the Philippines, University of the East, Mapua, San Beda University and University of Perpetual Help.
Adamson University, University of Santo Tomas, San Sebastian College, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Lyceum of the Philippines University are in Pool B while National University, Ateneo de Manila University, Jose Rizal University and Arellano University are in Pool C.
Saint Benilde is joined by De La Salle University, Far Eastern University and Letran in Pool D.
Using an all-to-play format, all players listed in a team’s roster will be fielded.
“This tournament format will benefit the teams as they work on improving their level of play and chance for coaches to use different combinations of players. This will also serve as a huge opportunity for new recruits and those off the bench to showcase their skills,” Laurel said.