THE University of the Visayas backed out of the Men’s Open Division 1, reducing the eight-team league to seven. But I think that has some unintended benefits because instead of having two groups of four and a semifinal round, the organizers have decided to adopt a league format for the division, mirroring the format of Division 2.

I always prefer league-type format over the cup since this will allow the team to face each other and, of course, consistency is the key in winning the league. Under the previous setup, one win and the teams can take it easy for the rest of the group stage as they are assured of a semifinal spot, where rankings won’t matter.

Under the league, they have to perform every day and with only six games, every goal is going to count. This also means that the odds have tipped heavily in the favor of defending champion Leylam FC, the most conditioned team in the league.

The two college teams, which I presume are also conditioned because they have regular practices, lost their opening matches with the collegiate champion University of San Carlos (USC) bowing to Leylam, 5-1, and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) losing to Don Sacredale.

Don Sacredale, last year’s losing finalist, is also a favorite for the title but this talent-laden team has always been hampered by their lack of practice. These guys are professionals or enterpreneurs and are busy with non-football responsibilities. I remember last year, after an impressive game against USC when he registered so many saves, goalkeeper Leonard Tan had to rush to his work.

That’s how busy these guys are and it’s impressive that they still managed to make it as second-best team last year. How will they fare this year? We don’t know yet.

The last time the Aboitiz Men’s Open adopted the league type was almost 15 years ago and that one featured a very close contest between Hiroshi FC and Crazy Horse. I think it went to the last game of the season between the two, which were only separated by goal difference. Hiroshi FC, of course, won the league during that season, when it went on quite a roll, winning almost every title in every local tournament.

I hope this year’s competition will also be a close one and will go down the wire.

That’s what happened in the Girls 18 and Men’s Division 2, with the titles getting decided in the last game.