PG Flex Linoleum UCBL to start new season on Friday, bannered by the defending champion Diliman College and six other universities and colleges across the country.
The PG Flex Linoleum UCBL (Universities and Colleges Basketball League) presented by Vespa will make its much anticipated comeback for its fifth season which will open on November 10 at the Paco Arena.
Sidelined for three years due the COVID-19 pandemic, the league will open its doors once again to seven squads with the back-to-back champion Diliman College leading the pack.
Joining Diliman College are Centro Escolar University, Olivarez College, University of Batangas, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas, and newcomer Guang Ming College to battle it out on the hard court.
Guang Ming College, an institution based in Tagaytay City whose sports program is headed by former UP coach Bo Peraso, will be led by their head coach former UP Maroon Mo Gingerich in testing the waters in the league.
“We’re both happy and fortunate to be back and start all over again. We want to start fresh and as we’re here for the long haul. We could have not done this without the trust and confidence of our member schools,” said UCBL president Franklin Evidente in yesterday’s official launch at the H2O Hotel.
“After the inaugural year, the second year, the third year, things were like clockwork. We knew what to expect. We knew what to do. We anticipated the problems. But now, starting fresh is a new thing for us again,” Evidente added.
A teaser for the upcoming collegiate league was presented earlier this year as the UCBL held a preseason tournament featuring UAAP and NCAA squads for the first time that had set the tone for the better and fiercer competition come Season 5.
“This is a new start. It’s anybody’s game in the UCBL with our seven teams including a newcomer. This will be a very good league for us,” added tournament director Horacio Lim, joined by PG Flex Linoleum owner Nelson Guevarra and Vespa general manager Bimbo Fontanilla.
Tags: #basketball, #collegiate, #league