Recoletos Cup: Hoops for a cause

HOLDING the 1st Recoletos Invitational Cup is like hitting two birds with one stone.

Tournament organizer Chito Sy said the purpose of having the tournament is to give Cebuano basketball fans a chance to watch high-quality games and at the same gather the needed funds for charity projects.

The three-day basketball event will start on Nov. 9 with the Meralco Bolts and the NLEX Road Warriors strutting their wares against the Cebu Landmasters and this year’s Cesafi men’s basketball tournament champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers.

In a press conference yesterday at the USJ-R main campus, Sy said ticket proceeds will be donated to the Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR) which seeks financial aid for its missions in Africa specifically in the Ebola virus-stricken Sierra Leone.

Sy added part of the proceeds will also go to the USJ-R Jaguars’ basketball training program for street children.

“This is an opportunity for the Cebuanos to really see in person their favorite PBA players,” he added.

Jaguars captain Jaybie Mantilla expressed his delight as “it was a dream come true” to play against PBA cagers.

“It’s a nice idea. We don’t have to go to Manila (to showcase our talents),” he said. “Go hard every time. Play with no hesitation.”

For organizer and Jaguars head coach Jun Noel, he said it will be a reunion of sort for him and NLEX coach Yeng Guiao, who served as his assistant coach during their stint in RFL-Swift’ in the defunct Philippines Basketball League (PBL).

USJ-R assistant sports moderator Ernesto Vergara Jr. announced that there will be a pre-selling of tickets on Monday at the main and Basak campuses .

Ticket prices are pegged at P50 and P100.