The Diliman College Blue Dragons look to replicate their magical run to the top of the University and Colleges Basketball League when they open their title defense on Thursday, September 5 at Olivarez Gym in Parañaque City.
“Nobody expected us to be the champions last year. Rest assured to the Diliman community and the UCBL, we will give our best to defend our title, and hopefully we can also win the championship back-to-back this year,” said Blue Dragons assistant coach Dela Cerna, who was representing Rensy Bajar during the league’s press conference, Thursday.
However, history is not on the side of Diliman College, as no team has ever gone back-to-back in the first three years of the league.
Moreover, there are seven teams out to dethrone them, including mainstays CEU Scorpions, TIP Engineers, Olivarez Sea Lions, LPU-Batangas Pirates, PCU-Dasmarinas Dolphins; the returning Batangas Brahmans; and newcomers NCBA Wildcats.
The Blue Dragons will field eight rookies this season, as they lost the likes of Joseph Brutas and John Mahari to graduation.
On the other hand, CEU and TIP are tipped as the teams to beat due to the experience they gained in the PBA D-League.
Backing the league is PG Flex Linoleum, a company that has been keeping tabs on the growth of the league over the past few years.
“PG Flex is one with the UCBL in its effort to help sustain the growth of Philippine basketball and discover the next face of Philippine basketball,” said PG Flex president Nelson Guevarra. “Kung tibay at tatag ang pag-uusapan, walang tatalo sa pusong Pinoy.
On Thursday, the league will open with a ceremony, followed by games pitting PCU-D versus UB and Olivarez versus CEU.
All games will be held on Mondays and Thursday, and will be shown on Solar Sports.
