Cebu to host AUBC caging

CEBU, Philippines – Despite the backing out of two teams, it's green and go for the 11th Asian University Basketball Championships set on October 22-26 in different areas of the province. The five-day joust, which will also be known as the 1st Cebu Province International Inter-Collegiate Championships, gets underway on October 22 in Bogo City.

The succeeding games will be played in Minglanilla and in Dalaguete town south of Cebu, while the final two playdates will be held at the University of San Carlos-Main gym.

Event organizer Lorenzo "Chao" Sy said Huaqiao University of China and Cebu's University of San Jose-Recoletos were initially set to take part in the competition, but withdrew at the last minute due to varied reasons. Huaqiao was grounded by the travel ban imposed by the Chinese government against the Philippines, while USJ-R opted to see action in the University Games on October 20-28 in Iloilo.

Inspite of it, Sy still looks forward to an exciting hardcourt battle featuring Myongji University of South Korea against Cebu's top collegiate ballclubs led by the University of San Carlos Warriors, Southwestern University Cobras, and the University of the Visayas Green Lancers.

As of the moment, Sy said he is looking for a team from either Thailand, Malaysia or Vietnam to fill in the spot left by Huaqiao.

"We will know by Thursday the team that will be coming over in place of Huaqiao," said Sy during the event's formal launching the other night at Hotel Fortuna along Borromeo Street, Cebu City.

"With the collegiate champions from Korea taking on the best of what Cebu amateur basketball could offer, it's going to be a very exciting tournament," added the Cebu City Sports Commissioner. "We are doing this because we want the fans from other areas in Cebu to witness a highly entertaining basketball action right at their own backyard. This is a rare opportunity for them because big events usually take place only in the city. It is but right to bring this (AUBC) to the rural areas of the province."

The contending squads will play in a single round robin format. The team with the best record after five days of grueling hardcourt battle will automatically be declared as champion. As bonus, the top performer among the local squads will earn the right to represent the country to the XXVIII Summer Universiade set for July 3-14, 2015 in Gwangju, South Korea.

The AUBC tilt is supported by the Cebu provincial government under the flagship of Governor Hilario 'Junjun' Davided III. It is also backed up by Mayors Celestino "Junnie" E. Martinez, Jr. of Bogo, Elanito Peña of Minglanilla, and Ronald Cesante of Dalaguete. —EBV) (FREEMAN)