Casals Village summer caging fires off today

CEBU, Philippines - A total of nine teams will slug it out for supremacy as the 2016 Casals Village Summer Basketball League comes off the wraps today at the Casals gym in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

Before the hardcourt hostilities, a simple opening ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. to be graced by US-based Cebuano NBA trainer/coach Jefferson Codera, Jr.

Codera is a member of the reigning NBA champions Golden State Warriors' training camp and a licensed coach of USA Basketball under its Youth Development Program.

He will be joined by the officers of Casals Village Homeowners Association, which is spearheading the event in partnership with San Remigio Properties.

Three games are scheduled on opening day and will be drawn by lots right after the kick-off rites.

The contenders in the month-long tilt that offers a total of P30,000 in cash prizes to the top finishers are the San Remigio Properties, Dexlab Disciple, ASPA, Prycegas, Casals Village Power House, SG Arq Builders, Energen, Atene de Cebu Blue Eagles, and Gaisano Capital.

They will play in a single round robin format, with the top four advancing into the crossover semifinals.

The top two qualifiers will enjoy twice-to-beat incentives over the lower-ranked squads. The winners will then face off each other in the sudden-death championship.

The champion will pocket P15,000, while the second and third placers will take home P10,000 and P5,000, respectively. — EBV (FREEMAN)