MANILA, Philippines—Somewhere in the country's far-flung regions are basketball talents waiting to be unveiled.

The National Collegiate Championship will scour at least nine regions in the hope of finding these potential national players, culminating in a "final 16" knockout format final round.

Eight teams are seeded outright to the last 16 round -- the top two teams of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association and champions of the Universities and Colleges Athletic Association, National Capital Region Athletic Association, National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities and Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.

The remaining eight spots will be determined through tournaments conducted by the mother leagues of nine regions.

A zonal championship follows featuring the nine regional champions and the third and fourth placers of the UAAP and NCAA, finalists of the South NCAA, the runner-up and third placer of Cesafi, three wildcard squads and four host teams.

The top two teams in each of the four zones will join the seeded teams to the knockout finals set Nov. 23 to Dec. 7 in a still undetermined venue.

"This will be a real grassroots program," said league media consultant Ed Mapa. "Normally, we only see the talents of players from the UAAP and NCAA. Now, we will get to discover players from different areas."

Mapa said they have gathered enough sponsors to fund the scholarship grants to be awarded to the winners, with the National champion getting P500,000 and the chance to represent the country to the 2009 Universiade Games in Serbia.

Mapa said they expect more than 200 teams to participate.

"Our league chair, Rey Gamboa, and officials of the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) have made sure schools will be fielding their best players," said Mapa.