A TOTAL of 16 teams will compete for the title and the Mindanao finals slot at stake when the 2019 Collegiate Sponsors League Escandor Cup gets underway at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 13, at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) 11 operations head Ronel Leuterio bared this during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao yesterday.

He said the teams will be divided into two brackets in the elimination round to determine the quarterfinalists, semifinalists and finalists.

“This is something comparable to Uaap and Cesafi. We’ll try to make it big with school teams having corporate sponsors. This will give homegrown talents to play here instead of going to Manila,” Leuterio said, adding that the city champion will advance to the Mindanao finals set in January. The champion of which will represent Mindanao to the national championship against the Uaap, NCAA and Cesafi champions.

Bracket A teams are Holy Cross of Davao College, Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines, DMMA College of Southern Philippines, University of Mindanao (UM)-Main, Mats College of Technology, San Pedro College, Cor Jesu College of Digos and John Paul II College of Davao.

Playing in bracket B are Jose Maria College, UM-Peñaplata, Brokenshire College, Rizal Memorial College, Holy Cross of Sasa, Ateneo de Davao University, Philippine Women’s College and Aisan International School of Aeronautics and Technology.

Opening games pit UM Main against HCDC at 1:30 p.m., Addu against HCCS at 3 p.m. and JMC against RMC at 4:30 p.m.

The league is presented by SBP regional director Glenn Escandor and backed up by Davies Paints, The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Mandarin Tea Garden SPC Branch, Max’s Restaurant and PTT Lubricants. (MLSA)