NEWCOMER Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) is out to make an instant impact on the local sporting scene.
The league’s inaugural staging on Saturday will be televised, including the twin bill pitting Olivarez College against Bulacan State U at 1 p.m. and Technological Institute of the Philippines versus University of Batangas at 3 p.m. at Olivarez gym in Sucat, Parañaque.
Consensus favorite Centro Escolar University will see action on Oct. 10 against Colegio de San Lorenzo.
Diliman College completes the field in the event to be shown on IBC 13 and sponsored by Lamoiyan Corp. and EuroMed.
The CEU Scorpions have become one of the country’s most successful collegiate teams, ruling the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) from 2012 to 2015 and topping the 2015 PBA D-League Foundation Cup.
Coach Yong Garcia’s Scorpions will be powered by 6-foot-6 Congolese Rodrigue Ebondu and 6-2 Nigerian Ebuka Umeanozie.
Tournament director Horacio Lim said in yesterday’s league launch the other teams are capable of pulling off surprises.
“Anybody can beat anybody,” Lim said.