Lady Archers top Dickies Cup favorites

MANILA, Philippines — Reigning UAAP titlist La Salle hopes to snare another crown when the 3rd Pilipinas Chinese Amateur Basketball League (PCABL) Dickies Women’s Cup gets going Sunday at CEU Lumera Tower gym in Legarda, Manila.

Led by Ara Abaca, Trisha Piatos and Inna Corcuera, the Lady Archers outlasted the National University Lady Bulldogs, 2-1, in their best-of-three title series last year to end 11 years of futility.

La Salle opens its bid against University of Santo Tomas at 9 a.m. with the cagebelles of coach Tyrone Bautista out to stamp its class in the six-team league presented by Dickies.

Other games pit many-time UAAP champ Far Eastern U against Centro Escolar at 10:30 a.m. and College of St. Benilde, last year’s runner-up, against newcomer Fatima at 12:30 p.m.

Jose Atienza, CEO of American Star Apparel Philippines and Dody Arcaya, Dickies vice president for sales and marketing, will grace tomorrow’s opening ceremony.

“Sponsoring this event is our own little way of helping women’s basketball,” said Atienza.

Other tournament backers: Smart Telecom, Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Power House, CW Home Depot, Dickies Underwear, Hapee Toothpaste.