DELeague 5th season opens with 11-team cast

MANILA, Philippines - The DELeague kicks off its fifth season on Sunday with an explosive twinbill pitting two-time champion Hobe Bihon-Cars Unlimited against Mindanao Gilas and Macway Travel versus Austen Morris at the Marikina Sports Center basketball gym in Marikina.

Completing the 11-team cast are Far Eastern University–FERN, Our Lady of Fatima University and Metro Pacific Toll Corp–Tollways in Group A, and Sta. Lucia Land, Philippine Christian University, Power Innovation Philippines and Philippine National Police in Group B.

Former PBA players and collegiate stars from the UAAP and NCAA banner the teams vying in the league backed by Marikina Mayor Del De Guzman. They include Nic Belasco, Ali Peek, Leo Avenido, Mac Belo, Karim Abdul, Charles Mammie, Francis Adriano and Estong Ballesteros.

Other backers of the league are PSBank, Accel Sportswear, PCA-Marivalley, Mckie’s Construction Equipment Sales and Rentals, Luyong Panciteria, Azucar Boulangerie and Patisserie, Quick Print, Mall Tile Experts Corporation, Jay Marcelo Tires, Polar Glass and Aluminum Supply and Mr. and Mrs. Dot Escalona.

The champion team will receive P200,000 while the next two finishers will get P100,000 and P50,000, respectively.

Organizers have waived the entrance fees for the opening game while P10 will be charged per person for the succeeding matches on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays starting at 7 p.m.

“For the past four years, our league has been successful because of the full support and patronage of our residents as well as those from nearby cities. We hope that with our continued love for basketball, we will be able to divert our youth away from bad vices,”  De Guzman said.

DELeague’s game results will also be viewed at www.sports29.com.