INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?For the first time in the history of the tournament, two Philippine youth teams are seeing action in the 2010 FilOil Flying V Arena Pre-Season Basketball Invitational Cup starting next month.

The RP 18-Under and 13-Under teams will be joining the seniors and juniors divisions, respectively, as guest teams in the tournament that kicks off with a triple-header on April 10 at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

The youth teams will be using the tournament to toughen up for future international competitions this year, said Joey Guillermo, chair of the annual pre-season tournament.

UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila University clashes with San Beda College at 4 p.m., while De La Salle University and Letran College collide at 6 p.m. in the seniors division on opening day. The juniors division showdown between Ateneo and La Salle-Zobel is set shortly after the 1 p.m. opening ceremony.

The tournament, which will stake scholarships, has lured 16 collegiate teams, while 17 teams are seeing action in the juniors division.

?The crowd will be treated to non-stop action, awe-inspiring performances by the cheerleaders and other gimmicks,? Guillermo said.

Also fielding teams in the tournament are College of St. Benilde, Arellano University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Jose Rizal University, University of Perpetual Help, Mapua Institute of Technology, San Sebastian College, Far Eastern University, National University, University of the Philippines, University of the East and Adamson University.