Nearly all the opposing teams have a common denominator in saying that former champion Centro Escolar University is the team to beat as the fourth season of the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) opens on Sept. 5 with a double-header at the Olivarez College Gym in Paranaque.
Featuring eight teams that have spruced up their respective rosters, this year’s UCBL promises to bring out the best in every squad.
League president Franklin Evidente presided over the press presentation Thursday at the H2O Hotel with tournament director Horacio Lim expressing his heartfelt appreciation to the entry of PG Flex Linoleum as the league’s title sponsor and the comeback of the NCBA Wildcats as the eighth team in the league.
“Eight is a lucky number so we are certain that we will have another successful season,” said Lim, who likewise welcomed the presence of PG Flex Linoleum owner Nelson Guevarra during the affair.
“PG Flex is one with the UCBL in its effort to help sustain the growth of Philippine basketball and discover the next face of Philippine basketball,” said PG Flex Linoleum president Nelson Guevarra. “Kung tibay at tatag ang pag-uusapan, walang tatalo sa pusong Pinoy.”
Aside from CEU, also entered are last season’s champion Diliman College, Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas, University of Batangas, Technical Institute of the Philippines, Olivarez College, LPU-Batangas.
Lim said while teams like CEU and Diliman College remain as favorites, “you just can’t take the others lightly because they are fast catching up.”
Olivarez head coach Michael Saguiguit said CEU “is the biggest team in the UCBL.”
Gual Garcia of PCU said the Scorpions “are very experienced and tall” with strong reference to Diouf Maodomalick, who stands a shade below seven feet.
CEU is also fresh from a runnerup finish in the PBA D-League.
Opening day games will feature PCU-D vs UB at 1pm and Olivarez College vs CEU at 3. The opening rites will take place at 12noon.
The games (Monday and Thursday) will run until late-November and it will have Solar Sports as telecast partner from 12 nn until 6pm.
