Teams vie for 'Munti' berth in Coke Hoopla

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Muntinlupa begins its quest for a representative to the Inter-City competition of the second Coca-Cola Hoopla when it kicks off its Intra-City elimination today even as six other cities play host to simultaneous matches in seven venues around the National Capital Region.

Yasdo faces A.S.P. at 6:30 p.m. at Baywalk in Muntinlupa, which, last year, stunned favored Pasig in a pulsating finals, bringing to a close a highly successful maiden offering designed to give players, especially non-varsity talents, coaches, fans and local government units a different avenue to interact in an atmosphere of fun and competition.

Mayamot, meanwhile, takes on Bagong Nayon at 6 p.m. at Mayamot in Antipolo; Kasipagan tangles with Bukid at 6:30 p.m. in Brgy. 32 Zone 2 in Manila; Sta. Rosa meets San Roque at 4 p.m. at San Roque in Cainta; Pulang Lupa clashes with Daniel at 2:30 p.m. at Bernabe in Las Piñas; Sto. Niño collides with Parang at 7 p.m. at Tambay Kay Lim in Marikina; and Concepcion tests Tinajeros at 7 p.m. at Plaza Concepcion in Malabon.

A total cash prize of P500,00 is at stake in this grassroots-to-the-core project launched by JB Baylon, PBA Powerade Tigers governor and director for Public Affairs & Communications of Coca-Cola Export Corp., with P250,000 going to the eventual NCR champion.

Bracketed in NCR-East zone are Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig and Pateros. NCR-West has Taytay, Cainta, Binangonan and Antipolo. NCR-North features Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, and Caloocan, while grouped in NCR-South are Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay and Taguig. NCR-Central completes the cast with Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong and San Juan.

There will be three levels of competition: Intra-City, Inter-City and Inter-Zonal. Except for the Inter-City, which will be a single round, the two other levels will be double-round affairs.

All cities will have three teams each except Quezon City, Manila and Makati which will have four apiece because of the size of their population and land area.

The champion from the Intra-City wars will advance to the Inter-City encounters with the option of fielding a selection of players who saw action in the Intra-City.

The emerging Inter-City champion will then represent its zone in the Inter-Zonal to decide the 2011 NCR champion.

Second place is worth P125,000, third place P75,000, and fourth P50,000.

Games and activity booths will be set up in the different venues to spice up the action, and a photo contest will be held to heighten the excitement.

A Mythical First Five selection will be picked later, and from it the Most Valuable Player.