SEVEN school teams will take part in the initial staging of the Universities and Colleges Basketball League when it gets off this Saturday with a 2-game bill at the Olivarez College in Sucat, Parañaque.
The Olivarez College Sea Lions, coached by Myk Saguiguit, will meet the Bulacan State University Gold Gears in the opening game at 1 p.m., while the Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers will clash with the University of Batangas Brahmans at 3 p.m.
Also joining are the Centro Escolar University Scorpions, the Colegio de San Lorenzo Griffins and the Diliman College Blue Dragons.
“These are the schools whom we call ‘The Magnificent Seven,’ being the first participants in the tournament,” said UCBL president Franklin Evidente, adding that the league is part of the Universities and Colleges Athletic League.
They envision to be at par with the top collegiate leagues in the future, just like the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
“We have a good mix of schools around the areas of Metro Manila and the outlying provinces,” said Evidente, who added that the games will be televised on IBC-13.
Organizers will also add volleyball, football, taekwondo and swimming in their calendar in the near future.
The BSU Good Gears will be coached by Antonino Tayao, and will have cagers coming from San Roque, Malolos, Bocaue and Plaridel in Bulacan.
The CEU Scorpions are playing under coach Yong Garcia, and will have a cast led by Cebuano Orlan Wamar, their 5’8” point guard and shooter.
The CDSL Griffins, under Bonnie Garcia, are contenders with 6’6” slotman Jonjon Gabriel’s imposing presence underneath, along with shooters like James Alvarado and Rustom Borja.
Potit de Vera is the coach of the TIP Engineers, while Arnold Cantorno is handling the Brahmans.
