IN another first in Philippine basketball, Pinoyliga is set to launch ‘The Big Dance’ tournament featuring the country’s top school hoop programs that kicks off on July 30 at the Enderun Colleges gym.
In a format similar to the ‘March Madness’ of the US NCAA, teams from the UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, NAASCU, ISAA, NCRAA and NCAA South are in for the first year of the tournament organized by Pinoyliga headed led by its founder Benny Benitez with Big Dance commissioner Russell Raypon.
According to Benitez, the tournament will complete the Philippine collegiate scene with a national championship – the same with the Palarong Pambansa and the NBTC National Finals for high school.
“Parang may kulang para makumpleto ang Philippine collegiate landscape. That’s the concept and rationale behind The Big Dance,” said Benitez during the event launch over the weekend at the Amelie Hotel in Manila.
After the teams were ranked for almost two months based on their performances in their respective leagues, as well as in other tournaments or invitational, a total of 28 teams were selected. Originally, it was supposed to be 32 but conflict in schedules particularly with several UAAP teams forced organizers to trim down the number to its current number.
For one, UAAP champion La Salle has begged off owing to its commitment as the country’s representative in the World University Basketball Series in Japan on the duration of the tournament.
Letran College, Adamson University, College of St. Benilde and NCAA reigning champion San Beda headline the 28-team cast as the Top Four seeds with a bye in the first round.
Other teams in Season 1 of The Big Dance include Mapua, Our Lady of Fatima University, Manila Central University, Centro Escolar University, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, Guang Ming College, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Lyceum of the Philippines University, St. Clare College, and Diliman College.
Completing the cast are University of Cebu, Jose Rizal University, Immaculada Concepcion College, Olivarez, College, San Sebastian College, Asian Institute of Maritime Studies, San Pablo College, Philippine Christian University Dasma, St. Dominic College of Asia, University of Perpetual Help Binan, University of Batagas, New Era University and Manuel L. Quezon University.
The round of 32 games and Sweet 16 matches will be played from July 30 to August 16 at the Enderun Colleges gym in Taguig City, while the Elite Eight and Final Four will be at the Amoranto Arena in Quezon City.
The national title game will either be at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the PhilSports Complex or the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on August 18.
Sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), The Big Dance will introduce a perpetual trophy worth P200,000 and made by renowned artist Cameron Castrillo for the champion.
The trophy will be kept by the same winner next year, or passed to the next champion. The team that wins it three straight seasons will keep the hardware for good.
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