8 teams enter Nat’l HS cage q’finals

Eight teams out of the 38 will move to the quarterfinal round of the first National High School boys basketball tournament after the eliminations of the event held in Philsports Arena in Pasig City, La Salle Greenhills Gym in San Juan, Marikina City Sports Complex, and the University of Rizal System gym in Morong, Rizal.

The eight teams which have swept their respective assignments include the La Salle Green Archers - Bracket 1, Quezon City Baby Griffins, Bracket 2, Cagayan de Oro Pilgrims - Bracket 3, Butuan City Sharks - Bracket 4, Mandaue City North Stars - Bracket 5, Catanduanes Bicol Express - Bracket 6, Iloilo City Wild Cats - Bracket 7, and Rizal Skylarks - Bracket 8.

The quarterfinals will get underway at the Philsports Arena today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Qualifiers for the quarterfinals shall draw lots for groupings and will play a single round robin. The winners will advance to the semifinals, a step away from the coveted Secretary’s Cup.

The knockout semifinal series will be held at the Philsports Arena tomorrow with the winners disputing the championship and the losers clashing for third place. The championship will be held Saturday at the Makati Coliseum on March 27 as preliminary to the PBA game between Purefoods and FedEx slated at 4 p.m.

The tournament is a component of the DepED Challenge: Good Health to Great Sports -- a continuing program from the elementary to the secondary level with emphasis on academics and excellence in sports.

The cagers come from the 17 DepED regions in the country, with ages ranging from 17 years and below. They are currently enrolled in public and private schools and are of good academic standing, with no failing grades in any subject.

Athletes, coaches and officiating officials are billeted at the Karangalan Training Center and Karangalan Elementary School in Cainta, Rizal.