Partner’s Cup opens with double-header

Games today (Cebu Coliseum)

3 p.m. – Gaisano Tisa-UC vs. Lion Tiger-USJ-R

4:30 p.m. – Prime Asia-UV vs. San Marino-USPF

Defending champion Prime Asia Pawnshop-University of the Visayas Green Lancers kickoff their title defense against the San Marino Corned Tuna-University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers when the 6th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) Partner’s Cup opens today at the Cebu Coliseum.

The reigning back-to-back Cesafi champions University of Cebu, which will be bringing the name of Gaisano Tisa will start their life without behemoth Junemar Fajardo when they battle the Lion Tiger Katol-University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars in the opening game set at 3 p.m. right after the opening ceremonies which start at 1 p.m. The 6-11Fajardo led the Webmasters to back-to-back crowns in the Cesafi before suiting up with the San Miguel Beermen in the ASEAN Basketball League.

The Green Lancers shone in the Partner’s Cup last year, just months after installing a new head coach in former PBA player Donbel Belano. They are expected to be serious title contenders this season especially with the return of spitfire guard Eman Calo and the acquisition of powerhouse forward Wowie Escosio.

There are only five teams joining the Partner’s Cup this season with Southwestern University and the University of San Carlos opting not to compete for lack of players. And just like last season, this tournament will be utilizing the “barangayan” system of substitution, which means that five different players will play from the first to the third period. The normal substitution pattern will take effect in the fourth canto.

The elimination round will be a single round-robin affair with the top team advancing outright to the semifinals. The quarters will be another single round-robin with the top three squads advancing to yet another round-robin in the semis. The top two teams after, will then play in the best-of-five finals series.

The other team competing is the Kia Motors-Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats.