Rudy Espinosa Cup 2009 cagefest to start April 13

CEBU, Philippines - The Ave Maria Sanctuary Park/USJ-R Jaguars will battle the Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology (SIT) Skyblazers in the opening match of the Rudy Espinosa Cup 2009 basketball tournament on April 13 at the Barba Sports Complex in Toledo City.

A total of P150,000 in cash is at stake for the top three performing teams in the event, which is among the highlights of Toledo’s annual fiesta on June 11-12 in honor of its beloved patron San Juan de Sahagun.

Details of the tournament were revealed during a luncheon meeting presided over by ex-UV Baby Lancer Ernie Lauranilla last Tuesday at Baseline Restaurant. Also present during the meeting was Toledo City Sports Committee Chairman and councilor Jun Borja.

Others present were coach Bong Begontes of SWU, Ruel Sestoso of Roble Shipping, Esteban Cesar Ortega of AC Sports, Raffy Senining of Ave Maria, coach Tata Merced of ACT and Romy Cal and Kokoy Cal of CSD.

Among the eight teams seeing action are USJ-R, SCSIT, Best Buy and Asian College of Technology (ACT) Cyber Knights in Group B and Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, CSD Builders, Roble Shipping and AC Sports in Group A.

The CSD Builders of coach Romy Cal and assistant Kokoy Cal will open their campaign against Roble Shipping on April 15 yet.

 The champion will take home P70,000, while the second and third placers will pocket P50,000 and P30,000, respectively.

All the teams will receive a transportation allowance every playing date.            

Borja even assured the team owners, representatives and coaches that the organizers are willing to give financial assistance in case a player gets injured. - GGM (THE FREEMAN)