The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers continue their rigid preparations for the upcoming Cesafi basketball tournament next month as they head to Zamboanga for the 67th Araw ng Ipil Mayors Cup Invitational Tournament on July 17 to 21 at the University of Zamboanga Gym in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
After placing second in the Mayor Kim Lope A. Asis 1st Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament where they lost to UAAP champions Far Eastern University a few weeks back, the Green Lancers will be facing much tougher opposition in the form of the Mindanao Aguilas—a team competing in the PBA D-League, Team Sindangan, Team Zamboanga del Norte Warriors and Team Dual Force from Cebu.
Aside from bragging rights, huge cash prizes are at stake with the champion carting off a cool P200,000. The runner-up will receive P150,000 while the third-placer will get P100,000. The fourth and fifth-placers will receive P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.
UV’s mettle will be severely tested by Dual Force which will be backed by former University of San Carlos aces Charles Pepito and William Mccaloney, ex-UV standouts John Abad and Rino Berame and commercial circuit stars Leo Losentes, Mustapha Arafat and Jerry Cavan.
The team from Zamboanga del Norte will be no pushovers as they parade NBA D-League draft pick Victor Nguidjol, formerly of the Lyceum Pirates, ex-University of San Jose-Recoletos guards Mac Labares and Raymund Catipay, former pro Eliud Poligrates and UV alumnus Wowie Escosio and Jabbar Mpouma.
Teams will play a single round-robin with the top two finishers advancing to the winner-take-all finals.