Mindanao teams fight for slots in adidas streetball finals

Streetball action heats up today as the survivors of the grueling Mindanao elims fight it out for berths in the national finals of the adidas Streetball Challenge at the NCCC Mall Atrium in Davao City.

Team Acoustic of Barangay Talon-Talon and Team Articulate of Bgy. Camaman-an lead the chase for the seniors crown with the former coming off a big romp in the Zamboanga elims and the latter topping the Cagayan de Oro qualifiers of the event sponsored by top sports apparel adidas.

Heading the cast in the girls division are Team Ganador of Bgy. Carmen and Team Galaxy of Western Mindanao U, winners of the Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga elims.

The Davao qualifiers, which drew a record 160-team field, are still being played at presstime.

Fancied to advance to the regional finals are defending seniors champion Holy Cross of Davao College, Ateneo, DMMA College of Southern Philippines, and Agro-Industrial College Foundation of the Phils., while titleholder University of Mindanao and Rizal Memorial Colleges are expected to roll into the finals of the girls category.

Also to be disputed in today’s regional finals are the juniors and midgets crowns with the Holy Child School of Davao fancied to crowd for the juniors plum and the Sacred Heart of Jesus School of CDO favored to advance to the midgets finals.

The event, co-presented by Globe Gentxt and backed by McDonald’s, Cherifer Multivitamins, Snickers chocolate bar, Coppertone, adidas fragrance and body care, Blue Angel alcohol, Milo, Powerade, Viva Mineral Water, adidas eyewear and Yehey.com, serves as the final stop of a four-month, nationwide circuit of street basketball with the top finishers in each category slugging it out in the national finals slated July 30-31 at the Festival Mall in Alabang.

Winners in the grand finals will advance to the prestigious adidas Streetball Asian Finals the country is hosting in September.

No less than Houston star Tracy McGrady and Portland guard Sebastian Telfair are gracing the adidas Streetball Asian Finals along with New Orleans guard JR Smith.