Coca-Cola Youngstars National Finals under way

THE 2012 PBA Coca-Cola Youngstars National Finals kick off today with all six regional qualifiers, four of them provincial champions, seeing action at the Treston Gym in Taguig.

Opening the Sweet Six championships for boys 13 to 16 years old is the clash between National Capital Region top teams Taytay, powered by San Beda, and Caloocan Selection at 9 a.m. preceded by the opening ceremony to be graced by PBA commissioner Chito Salud, league operations and technical head Ricky Santos, media bureau chief Willie Marcial, and Coca-Cola executives led by Powerade Tigers governor Ronnie Asuncion.

At 11 a.m., Northern Luzon bet Pampanga, represented by Holy Angel University, takes on District 1 of Southern Luzon winner Laguna, while Cebu’s University of Visayas tangles with Mindanao’s Holy Child-Davao at 12:30 p.m.

The national finals, a single round affair with the top two teams disputing the title, are the culmination of a months-long provincial elimination capped by regional championships in Northern and Southern Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and NCR.

“This will be the climax of the PBA’s desire to develop talent and instill values important to our society and which put emphasis on healthy and active lifestyle, self-discipline,  sportsmanship, and competitive spirit with honesty, humility and integrity,” said Salud.

Asuncion said nationwide response to the Youngstars tournament was overwhelming.

“It really warms the heart to witness the kind of interest shown by everybody in this project, especially the youth in the provinces,” said Asuncion.