The Universities and Colleges Athletic League-PG Flex Linoleum Season 6 opens on Saturday, January 20, with the defending champion Centro Escolar University aiming to flaunt its might as it dominated the opposition last season.
Newcomer Manila Central University should be better prepared when it goes up against the CEU Scorpions at 12:00 PM at Manila’s Paco Arena.
UCAL presented by Angel’s Pizza becomes the first collegiate league in the country to open this year, with an expected large and excited supporter turnout.
Philippine Women’s University, the other neophyte in the 9-team league, will also face its “baptism of fire” against Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas at 2:00 PM.
However, all eyes will be on the Scorpions, who returned to the summit last year by conjuring up a magical run.
They won 14 games, including a two-game sweep of Olivarez College in the finals.
The title win put CEU on par with Diliman College for the most number of titles, each with two, after winning the inaugural event in 2016.
In addition to basketball, the league, also backed by Smart Sports, will hold men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s 3×3, and esports for the first time.
While the Scorpions and Dolphins may have experience and depth on their side, they cannot take the MCU Supremos and PWU Patriots for granted.
For one, the two schools are determined to make their respective debuts memorable, with Andrei Romenez, Ralph Tadeo, and Yannick Tizie ready to lead the Supremos against the CEU troika of Franz Diaz, Dylan Darbin, and Dave Bernabe.
Spearheading the Dolphins are CJ Morillo, Ram Mesqueriola, and Datu Ali Adas.
Also taking part in the league are Diliman College, Olivarez College, Guang Ming College in Tagaytay City, University of Batangas, and Lyceum of the Philippines-Batangas.
