After three years, the PG Flex-Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) presented by Vespa is back on the hardcourt.
But just like their fourth season, two squads are seen as the absolute favorites to win it all, namely inaugural champion Centro Escolar University and two-time, defending champion Diliman College.
And the pressure is on for Scorpions head coach Chico Manabat.
“’Yun siguro ‘yung big shoes to fill in since Derrick Pumaren, Jeff Napa,” said Manabat, who will have the luxury of fielding two foreign student-athletes in Nigerians Henry Agunanne and Ayodeji Balogun.
“Bagong mga players ang dinala ko dito, and the system, nagbuy-in naman sila. Excited ako this season sa UCBL.”
Meanwhile, Dragons head coach Rensy Bajar will have Robbi Darang and Khalid Moumbagna headlining his team.
“Malaking challenge ito para sa amin siguro. Nakita ko ang CEU, nakapag-prepare talaga sila from the D-League and UCBL preseason. Ngayon, medyo ‘yun ang nakikita ko is malaking challenge for us this coming season,” said Bajar, who is also an assistant coach for Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
Not to be outdone is last season’s finalist Olivarez College.
“Masaya kami na nakabalik na kami dito sa UCBL,” said Sealions head coach Stephen Mopera, who took over from Myk Saguiguit just last Sunday. “Gagawin namin yung best namin sa bawat laro.”
Also set to put up to challenge the three powerhouse UCBL teams are University of Batangas, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, and Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas, along with new team Guang Ming College.
Guang Ming is coached by University of the Philippines assistant coach Mo Gingerich and has Bo Perasol as athletics director.
The festivities of the league that has Team Rebel Pilipinas as official outfitter and also supported by Maruyama Tarpaulin, Aprilia SR GT, Cafe France, Dr. Edwards Sterilized Drinking Water, Fontactive Complete Adult Nutrition Milk, and Gerry’s Grill will begin on Thursday, November 10 at Paco Arena the Pirates welcoming Guang Ming at 12:30 PM followed by the Brahmans taking on the Dolphins at 2:15 PM.
The tournament will be a double-round robin with the top four teams advancing to the knockout semis. The finals are a best-of-three affair.
“After the inaugural year, the second year, the third year, things were like clockwork. We knew what to expect, knew what to do, and anticipated the problems,” said league president Franklin Evidente.
“But now, we are starting fresh.”
The games will air on SMART Sports’ Facebook page.
