Cebu Elite League Friendship Cup set June 9-12

CEBU, Philippines - It's all systems go for the second conference of the Cebu Elite Basketball League Friendship Cup 2013 on June 9-12 at the University of San Carlos (USC)-North Campus gym.

The event was formally launched the other night by league organizer Chino Uy, a former varsity player of the USC Warriors in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI). He was joined by USC-NC sports coordinator and Passarelle coach Galimar Largo.

Interestingly, the four-day tilt features a rare showdown between Ateneo and La Salle high schools teams. This as defending champion Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles are grouped together with De La Salle Santiago Zobel School from Manila and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, who will be fielding in its collegiate Team B.

The other contending squads under bracket A are the USC Baby Warriors, Cebu Insitute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats and the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers.

They will play in a single round robin, with the top two teams in each bracket advancing into the crossover semifinals. The  winners will then clash for the championship in a winner-take-all affair.

The event also features the coaching debut of Cebuano bench tactician Britt Carlo Reroma with USC Baby Warriors.

"We are truly blessed to have him (Reroma) as our coach," said Largo. "It's going to be an exciting tournament because all the four teams are strong contenders." (FREEMAN)