THREE-PEAT NCAA champion San Beda University (SBU) Red Lions will lead the cast of the four-team 2019 Araw ng Dabaw Invitational Basketball tournament on March 18 to 21 at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) 11 operations head Ronel Leuterio bared this in a press briefing at Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center.
He said the Red Lions will be pitted against NCAA runner-up Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Pirates, De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers and University of the East (UE) Red Warriors.
"Few players from Davao form part of the teams. Magandang liga ‘to," Leuterio, who represented SBP regional director Glenn Escandor who is currently in Manila, said.
SBP 11 regional commissioner lawyer Francis Calatrava, for his part, said the four teams will play the single round robin format to determine the top two teams that will play the championship match.
Calatrava added, "Two games will be played each day starting at 5 p.m. in the free admission tournament."
The bottom two squads will battle for third.
Cash prizes, according to Miguel Solitaria, will be sponsored by the city government of Davao through the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO).
The city will also provide security during the tournament.
Calatrava reiterated that physical violence won't be tolerated during the games so if a player or a coach intentionally hurts somebody else will be arrested.