Season 10 of IBP hoopla gets underway tomorrow

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano lawyers who have flaming passion for shooting hoops will once again slug it out on the hardcourt as the 10th season of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Basketball League kicks off tomorrow at the Capitol Parish gym along Escario Street, this city.

As announced by the organizers in a press conference yesterday at Ocean Garden Restaurant in Brgy. Lahug, a total of eight teams will see action in the four-month joust led by defending champion Pañeros and one-time grandslam winner Super Idols.

The rest of the contending squads are the Dissenters, Primos, Bhutakalz, Eagles, Lex Titants, and Pecandela. The Dissenters, led by their governor Mark Werner J. Rosal, is this season's host team, with Jonas A. Asis and Kenneth Kernn A. Sesante acting as league commissioner and tournament coordinator, respectively.

Atty. Asis said the tournament will follow a single round robin format in the elimination phase. The top four teams in the upper bracket and the remaining four in the lower bracket will figure in another round robin in the next stage.

The top three finishers in the upper bracket will automatically advance into the semifinals, while the No.4 seed will go up against the top qualifier in the lower bracket, which is also considered as a wildcard entry, for the fourth and last semis spot.

In the crossover semis, the top-ranked squad will go up against the No.4, while the No.2 and No.3 qualifiers will take on each other in a sudden-death match. The winners will then clash for the championship as well as the bragging rights of being the best fighting force on the hardcourt among all legal luminaries in this portion of the archipelago.

Since its inception seven years ago, the IBP Basketball League has religiously adhered to its three-pronged mission of fostering camaraderie among lawyers; providing them an outlet to shed off excess stress generated by the rigors of legal profession; and helping them stay physically fit.

On its 10th year, playing coach Ferdinand "Bong" Pepito of the Super Idols said they're expecting a highly competitive battle especially that most of the teams will be coached by former commercial stars and top varsity players during their prime.

Before the games proper, a simple opening ceremony will take place at 10 am. Action promptly starts at 1 pm. (FREEMAN)