Champions League starts June 17

A season of rivalry in Philippine basketball spreads deeper into the collegiate circuit when the 2003 Champions League Grudge Games unfolds on June 17 at the Makati Coliseum.

Coming on the heels of the highly-successful Crispa-Toyota Reunion Match, the Grudge Games, according to Champions League commissioner Ramon Fernandez, hopes to recall "even for a brief period, the memorable encounters between some of the top collegiate teams in the country.

"All 12 games are geared at pinpointing nine schools to be later seeded to the tournament proper in November," said Fernandez. "But they also give teams that might not be able to do well in their mother leagues a shot at being invited."

Also seeing action in the Grudge Games are UAAP champion Ateneo, NCAA title-holder San Sebastian, 2002 Champions League winner University of the East, La Salle, San Beda, Letran, University of Manila, Philippine Christian U, University of the Philippines, St. Benilde, Adamson, Philippine Maritime Institute,San Lorenzo, Lyceum, Philippine School of Business Administration, National U, St. Francis, Far Eastern U, St. Claire-Caloocan and University of Assumption-Pampanga.

Nine of these schools, outside those that would qualify to the Round of 32 on the strength of their finishes in their mother leagues, will receive invitations to the US NCAA-patterned post-tournament.

The top four teams from the UAAP, NCAA and CESAFI (Cebu) are seeded in the Petron-sponsored post-tournament.