ABS-CBN offers P1 million in pre-season caging

MANILA, Philippines – Television giant ABS-CBN is putting up a P1 million prize in a pre-season tournament pitting UAAP teams against those from the NCAA in what promises to be an interesting showdown of the country’s top varsity squads.

NCAA president Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, of San Beda yesterday confirmed the league has already received an invitation from ABS- CBN, which airs both leagues, to join the tournament tentatively set June 10-16.

“Yes, we will join the tournament,” said De Jesus, the San Beda rector.

A source from ABS-CBN, however, said details of the event are still being finalized, including the tournament format, game officials and venues.

“There are actually two proposals. The first one will pit the best players of the UAAP against the best of the NCAA while the other one will match teams from the UAAP against the NCAA in a knockout style format event,” said the same source.

“We are in fact having a meeting right now (yesterday) to finalize everything,” the source said.

With San Beda, the NCAA three-peat champion, confirming its participation, Letran, Mapua, San Sebastian, Jose Rizal, St. Benilde and Perpetual Help are expected to follow suit.

Among the UAAP schools, only Far Eastern U, Adamson, University of the East and University of Santo Tomas are keen on joining the event.

Ateneo athletic director and UAAP board member Ricky Palou said the Eagles may end up also enlisting in the interesting pre-season tournament.

“Most probably, we will join,” Palou told The STAR.

If UAAP rivals Ateneo and La Salle decide to participate, the tournament promises to be a thriller with San Beda and the other NCAA teams out to prove their worth against their counterparts from the UAAP league.