Cebu, General Santos squads to join Filoil Pre-Season Cup

Tournament director Joey Guillermo

MANILA, Philippines — Southwestern University’s stint in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup last year opened more doors for provincial teams.

Four teams from outside Luzon could be joining the top annual collegiate basketball pre-season tournament which opens on April 26, said tournament director Joey Guillermo on Thursday.

Cebu’s University of San Carlos Warriors, and General Santos-based Holy Trinity Wildcats have already committed to join, while the league is still waiting for confirmation from Cesafi finalists University of Visayas Lancers and SWU Cobras.

“We noticed in the PCCL, SWU was a different team. The level of confidence was different [after the Filoil], so we thought why not expand it now to other promising teams,” Guillermo told reporters after the coaches’ meeting.

Manila-based Centro Escolar University Scorpions are also joining the Filoil tournament, which used to be participated in only by teams in the UAAP and the NCAA.

“We saw that we have a chance to help teams outside of the UAAP and the NCAA to up their team, so we invited them. So the level of play can improve, not only in Manila,” Guillermo said.

“This is the first test of inviting other schools. Eventually every year we will invite other schools,” he also said.

While financing a two-week stay for the visiting teams, which includes airfare and accommodation for an entire squad and staff, is no light burden, the league is offering a venue to toughen up their rosters.

“We know it’s no joke to finance their stay. What we’re offering them is a chance to play stronger teams. It’s not going to be just a tune-up, it’s really a [competitive] league,” Guillermo said.

This year, twenty-two squads in the men’s division, divided to three brackets, are going to play in a single-round robin eliminations against teams in their group.

Eight squads, top two from each group and two best third placers (quotient-based) will advance to the knockout quarterfinal round.

One-off matches will also be played in the semifinal round and the finals, scheduled for June 8.

Guillermo also bared that plans of holding a game day in Cebu, one of the country’s basketball hotbed, is in the works.

“It’s a plan. If we can get more sponsors to help, we will do that. If we can get 2 teams from Cebu, we’re planning to hold one of the games there so the locals can see how their teams can match against other strong teams.”

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