Lipa cagefest now known ‘Champions League 2002’

A tournament among champions should be called just that, main reason why organizers of the Colleges and Universities Basketball Challenge Cup decided to adopt a new name.

Multi-titled former coach and event organizer Joe Lipa yesterday announced that the cagefest featuring the top 16 teams from all over the country would be called Champions League 2002.

"Each team is a champion in its own right, that’s why we came up with a name that is more appropriate and one we believe would easily stick to the people’s mind," explained Lipa.

Only one slot is to be decided in the tournament set to start on Nov. 10 at the Makati Coliseum. West Negros University and University of Iloilo are disputing the lone berth from Western Visayas on Oct. 27.

Already in are Ateneo, La Salle, University of Santo Tomas and University of the East from the UAAP; San Sebastian, College of St. Benilde and Jose Rizal University from the NCAA; St. Francis of Assisi and Philippine School of Business Administration from the UCAA; University of Manila from the NAASCU; Las Piñas College from the CUSA; University of Visayas and University of San Jose-Recoletos from Central Visayas’ CESAFI; Rizal Memorial Colleges from Mindanao; and University of Baguio from the Baguio Educational Athletic League.

The tournament would also stick closer to the adopted format of the US NCAA. Each game, from the eliminations up to the semifinals, would be a knockout affair.