MANILA, Philippines – With Chiang Kai Shek poised to defend its title and the top teams from the UAAP and NCAA out to challenge, organizers expect a battle royale for honors in the 2016 Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship – MEC Network Cup slated Dec. 10-18.
The CKSC Blue Dragons set out for back-to-back diadems in the 12-team field featuring elite high school quintets from the UAAP, NCAA and Filipino-Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation (FCAAF).
UAAP Season 78 titlist National U leads the UAAP roster that includes third-placer La Salle-Zobel, fourth placer Far Eastern, and fifth-placer Adamson, which took the place of 2015 runner-up Ateneo, while reigning NCAA ruler Mapua tows fellow NCAA Final Four teams San Beda, La Salle-Greenhills and Arellano.
FCAAF king CKSC is joined from the Fil-Chinese ranks by Manila Patriotic School, St. Stephen High School and Hope Christian High School, which replaced Cesafi juniors boss Sacred Heart.
“We’ll have the Top 4 teams from the NCAA led by Mapua and UAAP headed by NU this time. And even though UAAP runner-up Ateneo begged off, the team that took its place, Adamson is leading the current UAAP season with a 5-0 record, so we really expect a good fight,” said league organizer Edster Sy during Monday night’s coaches’ meeting presided by league commissioner Ato Badolato and press launch at Choi Garden Restaurant in Greenhills.
CKSC is bracketed with last year’s PSSBC bridesmaid DLSZ and DLSGH in Group B while NU is with AU and MPS in Group A and Mapua has Adamson and SSHS as company in Group D. San Beda, Far Eastern and Hope Christian comprise Group C.
The teams will play a single round-robin with the top two teams advancing to the knockout quarterfinals of the event supported by Poly Gloss Automotive Polyurethane System of Terry Que, MEC Network (Leoncio Chua), Freego (Eduard Tio), Blackwater (Dioceldo Sy), Dickies Underwear (Rudy Yu), Ironcon Builders (Jimi Lim), Hapee Toothpaste (Cecilio Pedro) and Ché Lu Bar & Grill (Jimmy dela Cruz).