DEFENDING champion University of Santo Tomas (UST) will field two teams as the 4th Pinay in Action (PIA) Cup football tournament kicks off Friday, January 11, at the Tionko field, Barangay 76-A, Matina, Davao City.

PIA project manager Ayra Malabayabas bared this during Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao.

Malabayabas said, “UST, I think, has been holding their training camp in Davao for the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines). They have two teams in the tournament. Last year they only had one team in Dumaguete City.”

The PIA Cup, according to her, was brought to Davao due to the handful of women's football teams present here.

The league, organized by Pinay in Action founder Taguig Representative Pia Cayetano, is sponsored by Ulticon Builders, Incorporated.

She also said 15 9-A-Side teams confirmed including squads in Manila, Maco, Compostela Valley, Kidapawan City, Surigao City, Zamboanga City and Davao City.

Teams will be divided into three groups then the top two teams based on points system will advance to the next round to determine the semifinalists en-route to the championship match.

Also entered are UP Women’s Football Team X, UP Women’s Football Team Y (Manila), Sky Warriors Football Club of Maco, Compostela Valley; FC 95 Iligan Ladies of Iligan; Bellas Chikaz of Kidapawan, Lianga Football Club without a Pitch of Lianga, Surigao del Sur; Baliwasan-Red Corals United Football Club of Zamboanga City; Tiago Football Club of Dapitan; and Bad Bonitas of Dipolog City.

Davao City is represented by Sikat Alab Football Team, CR7-Food Truck, PCT-Medvil Football Club and University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao Football Club.