Top collegiate squads collide in MLKP Sinulog Cup today

Game today:

Cebu Coliseum

5 p.m. – MLKP-SWU vs. UE

7 p.m. – San Beda vs. UV

A BRIEF BUT fierce battle is expected starting today as four of the best collegiate squads from Cebu and Manila battle it out in the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Sinulog Cup basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.’s runner-up MLKP-Southwestern University (SWU) and nine-time champion University of the Visayas (UV) will represent the homefront and will try to play rude host to the visiting University of the East (UE) Red Warriors of the UAAP and the reigning back-to-back champions San Beda Red Lions of the NCAA.

The teams will play a single round-robin with the top two teams at the end of the elimination round advancing to the winner-take-all championship game on Monday.

Playing in the first game today will be the SWU Cobras and the Red Warriors while the Red Lions face off against the Green Lancers in the main offing.

The Cobras will be boasting of a mix of local stars, international recruits and some veteran players from the PBA D-League.

This will be the same group that won the Cebu Basketball Association championship last month.

Manning the middle will be Abby Santos and Cameroonians Justin Aboude and Mendjala Mbala. Remaining with the squad are Eleazar Armecin, Rene Pacquiao, Bon Guillena and Joseph Nalos. Tapped to reinforce the squad are D-Leaguers Jeff Viernes, Jessmar Villahermosa and Chris Dumapig.

The Red Lions are expected to be tough company, especially with their huge frontline composed of Jake Pascual, Rome dela Rosa and Kyle Pascual.

The Green Lancers will come to battle with John Abad, Andrew Avillanoza, Jerome Silva, Phil Mercader and the comebacking Eman Calo.  Correspondent Jonas Panerio