Thirty four school teams are set to join the 25th Fr. Martin Cup summer tournament will begin on April 6, Saturday at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda Manila campus in Mendiola.
Organizer Edmundo Badolato said the defending champion San Beda Red Lions are among the 14 squads joining the senior division.
The Red Lions will try to bounce back from their loss to the National University Bulldogs, 66-67, in last Sunday’s 15th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open finals.
“This will be the longest running pre-season tournament that dates back to 1994,” said Badolato, who co-founded the cagefest with Noel Ascue and Nic Jorge when he was still the secretary general of the Basketball Association of the Philippines.
Badolato, who guested in Thursday’s “Usapang Sports” at National Press Club in Intramuros, added that there are 14 squads, including current champion Adamson University, which are entered in the junior division.
As for the women’s side, five teams are listed, including reigning titlist, NU Lady Bulldogs.
During the Collegiate Open finals, Enzo Joson scored the winning layup for the Bulldogs in the dying seconds, while Niko Abatayo led with 14 points. Arnaud Noah shot a game-high 13 points for the Red Lions.
Joining the Red Lions are Mapua University, San Sebastian College, Diliman College, Arellano University, Far Eastern University, AMA University, Preston College and Letran.
La Consolacion College-Manila has also signed up with National College of Science and Technology, Lyceum Philippines University, de La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines.
In the junior side, the Adamson Baby Falcons are among those which initially signed up with Lyceum, FEU, St. Patrick School, Preston College, UST, LCCM, San Beda-Rizal, Letran, Diliman Preparatory School, San Beda-Manila and First City Providential College.
In the women’s side, UST is included with Enderun, La Salle, University of the East and NU.