'Team B' college players get chance at spotlight with Pinoyliga Cup

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from providing a platform for top college players, Pinoyliga Cup is also offering a stage for second and third “stringers” or players hoping to prove they have what it takes to eventually get to the main unit of their respective collegiate teams.

Pinoyliga Cup tournament director Benny Benitez said this is the concept behind when they started with the Next Man Cup back in 2022  after initially launching the Collegiate Cup the year before.

“This is our third season already. This is our tournament for Team B. There has to be a refresh for the concept, this is where we — Pinoyliga — come in,” said Benitez during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday at the conference half of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“All of the milestones of a Filipino basketball player, linalagyan namin ng pundasyon,” he added in the same session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart/PLDT, MILO, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus

“We started with the Alumni Cup, and eventually, nagbuo din kami ng Collegiate Cup, tapos nag-dagdag kami ng Next Man Cup, then we also have the Juniors’ Cup.”

Ongoing tournaments now of Pinoyliga are the Alumni Cup and Juniors Cup, which premiered early this month, with NCAA junior’s champion Letran Squires and UAAP junior’s titlist Adamson Baby Falcons leading the participating teams.

On the other hand, the Alumni Cup is now on its fifth season with the UE Red Warriors aiming for a third straight title in the 40-above category, while the Mapua Cardinals will try to retain the championship in the 30-above division.

Benitez the Next Man Cup will start in late November.

At least 10 to 14 teams are expected to join, which include defending champion College of St. Benilde.

While schools from the top two collegiate leagues in the country — the NCAA and UAAP — remain at the forefront of tournaments organized by Pinoyliga, Benitez said that they are “inclusive” since they also welcome other team schools from other leagues like the NAASCU, NCRAA and CESAFI.