This brings the total number of competing teams to 10 in the inaugural VAAA season set to take off on November 11.
The rest of the entries include Cebu's Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology, Dumaguete's Silliman University, Asian College of Science and Technology and Foundation University, Tagbilaran's Holy Name University and Bohol Institute of Technology-International College and Ormoc's Western Leyte College.
Through their respective athletic directors, USC, SWU and USJ-R signified their intent to join the VAAA cage wars during a meeting presided over by VAAA founder and Cebu City Councilor Raul Alcoseba yesterday at Yayoy's Grill situated on Orchid Street in Brgy. Capitol Site, this city.
"Of course I'm very happy with this development. The competition is now very balanced because we have teams from Cebu, Negros, Bohol and Leyte," said Alcoseba, who is also the head coach of M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Jewelers.
Holy Name University will host the season opening matches that will pit HNU against SWU Cobras in the first game and BIT-IC versus Silliman U in the main attraction.
USC's entry in the VAAA cage wars easily made them the heavy title favorites as the Warriors reached the championship round - albeit for a losing cause to six-time champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers - in this year's 6th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tilt.