13-team DELeague cagefest unfolds Saturday

MANILA, Philippines - Thirteen teams fight it out for the crown and the top prize of P100,000 in the first DELeague Open Invitational basketball tournament unfolding Saturday at the Marikina Sports Park along Sumulong Highway.

Sta. Lucia, Philippine Army and Dr. Tams Miracle Tea banner the field in the tournament which offers a total prize of P200,000. The other teams are Three Broches (7-11), Hobe Bihon, Jaram Hauling Corp., St. Patrick’s Edseca, Juson Quality Tapes, Atoy Body Kit’s (Congre 1), Marikina Selection, Investwell, MBL Selection, and ACS.

Hobe Bihon and Jaram Hauling kick off hostilities as they clash at 7 p.m. while Sta. Lucia and Philippine Army tangle at 8:30 p.m.

Action resumes on Sunday with St. Patrick’s Edseca battling it out with Investwell and Dr. Tam’s Miracle Tea mixing it up with 7-11 Three Broches.

The games will be held Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The runner-up will get P50,000 while the third and fourth placers will receive P25,000 and P10,000, respectively.

Pleased with the overwhelming support, Mayor Del de Guzman has vowed to make the DELeague of Marikina an annual event.

He added that the staging of the tournament is in line with his goal of making Marikina the “Sports Hub” of the Philippines.

Moreover, he said that he wants young Marikeños to focus their interests on sports.

Spicing up the opener is the holding of the Three-point Shootout and Slamdunk competitions with cash prizes at stake and the naming of the Best Muse.