Collegiate Champions League update

Collegiate Champions League update
by gameface.ph (10/1908)

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, the Lyceum of the Philippines Pirates, Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals and St. Claire College Saints survived the grueling “Wild Card” phase of the SMART-PLDT-KFC 2008 Philippine Collegiate Championship games recently completed at the Makati Coliseum.

The cast of teams in the zonal championship are the following:

Zone 1 – St. Louis University, Champion-Ilocos/Baguio; University of Luzon, Champion-Pangasinan/Pampanga; Mapua Cardinals, NCAA fourth placer; Arellano University Chiefs, Fr. Martin Cup; Lyceum University-Batangas, NCAA-South runner-up; and University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, Wild Card Qualifier.

Zone 2 – University of Nueva Caceres Greyhounds, Champion-Quezon/Bicol; Don Bosco College-Mandaluyong, Champion-NCAA-South; University of the East Warriors, UAAP fourth placer; and Lyceum of the Philippines Pirates, Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals and St. Claire College Saints, Wild Card Qualifiers.

Zone 3 – BIT International College Cruisers, Champion-Bohol/Dumaguete; AMA Computers Titans, Champion-Ormoc/Tacloban; University of San Jose Recoletos Jaguars, CESAFI runner-up; Letran College, NCAA third placer; University of Cebu Webmasters, Wild Card Qualifier; and Bacolod/Iloilo Champion (ongoing regional finals at Bacolod).

Zone 4 – Xavier University Crusaders, Champion-Cagayan de Oro; University of Mindanao Wildcats, Champion-Davao/GenSan; Ateneo de Zamboanga, Champion-Zamboanga provinces; Far Eastern University

Tamaraws, UAAP third placer; University of San Carlos Warriors, CESAFI third placer; and Capitol University Stallions, Wild Card Qualifier.
For more details about the biggest collegiate basketball event for the year presented by SMART, PLDT, FilOil Flying V and KFC visit the official website, www.CollegiateChampionsLeague.net and www.gameface.ph, internet media partner of PCCL.

______________________________________________________________________

WPBL tryout draws 125 players
by philippinebasketballleague.org (10/1908)

If the number is use as an indication, then the Women’s Philippine Basketball League (WPBL) – back after almost a decade of absence – will be a lot more fun and exciting this year.

A total of 125 aspirants – some of them coming as far as Cebu – showed up during the open tryout held yesterday at the Jose Rizal University gym in Mandaluyong City which is a clear manifestation that women’s basketball is still alive and kicking in the country.

PBL officials, led by Commissioner Chino Trinidad, Deputy Commissioner Tommy Ong, Executive Director Butch Maniego and chairman Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre were very satisfied with the turnout of the one-day tryout supervised by Joey Guanio and Jigs Mendoza.

“The number of participants is a good indication of what to expect in the coming tournament. If only we have 20 teams for the coming tournament then we can accommodate them all,” said Romero, the man responsible for the revival of the event. “Halos lahat nagpakita ng galling para makasama sa WPBL.”

“With this number of aspirants, we have a bright future ahead when it comes to women’s basketball. It’s really my dream to win both the men’s and women’s divisions in the SEA Games,” added Romero.

Also present were Patrick “Pato” Gregorio of Smart Sports under the company of telecommunication mogul Manny V. Pangilinan, Haydee Ong of Nutri-C under the company of Jun Sy of Nokia, Pat Aquino of Ever Bilena, Chito Narvasa and Tanny Gonzales of Muscle Tape-Lyceum and representatives from Discovery Suite, Pharex, Bacchus Energy Drink and Oracle Residence.

Trinidad and Romero will announce today the final composition of the tournament today.

“We see at least 10 teams competiting in the coming tournament. But I hope our other regular members will take part in the next conference,” said Trinidad.

Maniego said the drafting of the players will be held either on Tuesday or Wednesday.