Junior Archers due in Cebu today for Cebu Elite hoopla

CEBU, Philippines - The De La Salle Santiago Zobel School juniors basketball team are set to arrive in Cebu today in light with their participation in the Cebu Elite Basketball League Friendship Cup 2013, which will kick off tomorrow at the University of San Carlos-North Campus gym.

Event organizer Chino Uy said the Alabang-based squad are not only the center of attraction in the four-day tilt, but are also the team to beat being the reigning national champion in the Milo BEST SBP/Passerelle tournament.

Also, the Junior Archers are La Salle's high school representatives to the prestigious UAAP cage wars this year. They have at least two titles to brag for during the 2006 and 2008 UAAP seasons.

“It is our honor to have La Salle Zobel in this four-day tournament. I am sure all our local high school teams are thrilled to play against one of the winningest high school teams in the UAAP,” said Uy, a former shooting guard of the USC Warriors in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).

“This is going to be the first time that our local high school teams can play tune-up game with a champion UAAP team. This team has been tested in battles. So this must be a very exciting competition,” Uy added.

Cebuano fans could also look forward to 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 La Salle Zobel  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 semifianals. They winners will then clash for the championship in a winner-take-all affair. (FREEMAN)