Nakatakdang mag-upakan ang Cardinals at 29ers sa alas-6 ng gabi matapos ang 30 minutong opening ceremony kung saan panauhing pandangal si NBC president at reigning national pistol champion Nathaniel Tac Padilla na magbibigay ng inspirational talk at siya ring maghahagis ng ceremonial toss na aasistihan ni NBC chair Louie Kierulf at secretary general Tito Palma.
Anim na iba pang koponan ang maglalaban-laban sa tourney na ito na sponsored ng Panasonic, Spring Cooking Oil, Sulpicio Lines, PCSO, Air Philippines, Supercat, Accel, Natures Spring Mineral Water, Distilleria Limtuaco at Molten.
Itoy ang North division contenders Forward Taguig at Spring Cooking Oil-Laguna at ang South division campaigners Iloilo, Cebu, Ozamis at Cagayan de Oro.