Thursday, November 08, 2007 WNC Mustangs off to Champions Cup tilt By Henry C. Villalva
NOPSSCEA reigning collegiate champions West Negros College Mustangs are scheduled to leave Saturday, November 10, for Manila to see action in the Fil-Oil/Flying V National Collegiate Champions Cup set to kick off on the same day at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The nine-time NOPSSCEA champions lineup is composed of skipper Vengie Vergara, Alfie Villariza, Jetric Sumido, Vergilio Dapar, Jason Melarin, Winrich Pusoc, Briton Javelona, Rolly Jaca, Bernard Suante, Jeff Jacinto, Rhundy Baydo, Raul Suyod and Robert Lauron.
The team is mentored by Dennis Tumayan with Joebert Pastias as assistant and WNC sports executive Anthony Carlo Agustin as team manager. Also accompanying the team is WNC Sports Office administrator Romulo Estrebillo.
The Mustangs are bracketed in Group D with Ateneo de Manila University, Jose Rizal University, and Lyceum of the Philippines University. They are slated to take on the ADMU Blue Eagles for their first scheduled game in the elimination round.
It will be the first time former Mustang Siverino 'Nonoy' Baclao, now a starter for the Blue Eagles, to be playing against his former varsity squad. Ateneo and WNC finished second and third behind champion FEU during the October 22-28 12th Unigames hosted here by University of St. La Salle.
UAAP champion De La Salle University Green Archers and NCAA titlist San Beda are ranked one and two, respectively in this event now on its fifth year which offers P500,000 in the form of sports scholarships to the champion.
The next three finishers will get P200,000, P100,000, and P50,000.
The Blue Eagles are ranked third while University of the East Warriors are ranked fourth.
The Mustangs are seeing action in this series by virtue of their being NOPSSCEA titlists while the other league champions also in the cast are: CUSA champion Manuel L. Quezon University, NAASCU titlist STI; UCAA champion St. Francis of Assisi Doves; CESSAFI (Cebu) champion University of Visayas Lancers; Tacloban champion Sacred Heart College; and the winner of the ongoing Davao collegiate league which could be either Holy Cross College, Ateneo de Davao University, or University of Mindanao.
Smart has also put up prizes for the Most Valuable Player (the M.V. Pangilinan Cup awardee), members of two Mythical teams, best defensive team, coach of the series, and best performing referee.
PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad has been named tournament commissioner. Aside from the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, games will also be played at the Loyola Gym, San Beda College Gym and at The Arena in San Juan where the quarterfinals, semis and finals will be played.
