MANILA, Philippines – The Pinoyliga Cup is back in action, featuring both the Alumni Cup and the newly introduced Juniors Cup. This year’s Alumni Cup begins on Sunday, October 6, at Enderun Colleges in Taguig City, where former college players will battle it out once again for basketball supremacy.
Defending champions Mapua University and the University of the East (UE) are set to defend their crowns in two divisions. UE, seeking a third straight title in the 40-and-above category, aims for a Grand Slam, while Mapua looks to secure back-to-back championships in the 30-and-above division.
Familiar Matchups Await Alumni Teams
In the 30-and-above division, Mapua will begin its title defense against Adamson University, while in the 40-and-above division, Adamson will take on Letran, as UE guns for a three-peat.
Last season, Mapua claimed the 30-and-above championship by defeating De La Salle University, while UE triumphed over College of St. Benilde (CSB) to capture their second consecutive 40-and-above title.
In addition to the Alumni Cup, the inaugural Juniors Cup will kick off on October 12, also at Enderun Colleges. This new division serves as a pre-season event for some of the best high school programs from leagues such as the NCAA and UAAP.
“We’ve invited teams that we believe have a strong chance of making it to the Final Four in their respective leagues,” said Pinoyliga co-founder Benny Benitez, who has teamed up with sports outfitter LGR Athletics. “Pinoyliga Cup remains committed to providing top-tier competition for Filipino basketball players and promoting the return of amateurism in varsity sports,” Benitez added.
Aside from the Alumni and Juniors Cups, Pinoyliga’s year-round calendar also includes the Collegiate Cup, where De La Salle University holds the title; the Next Man Cup for Team B squads, with CSB as reigning champions; and the Women’s Cup, launched last July, where Gilas Pilipinas emerged as the inaugural champions.
Fans can catch the games live on the Pinoyliga Cup Facebook page, YouTube channel, as well as Smart Sports and the Smart Livestream Platform.
