1st Rexona women’s caging tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - Top collegiate teams and two fancied clubs slug it out in an early clash of the favorites in the first Rexona Women’s Invitational basketball tournament firing off tomorrow at the Buddhacare  gym in QC.

Led by three-time UAAP champion National University-Ever Bilena and UCBL’s Centro Escolar University, the collegiate squads pit their skills against Discovery Sports and Air Force – backstopped by former national and varsity players – in the tournament put up to further boost women’s basketball in the country.

Also taking part in the event presented by Rexona and organized by the PCABL are Far Eastern University-Multimotors, Adamson-Mighty Sports, University of the East-Cherrylume, and University of the Philippines.

NU, bidding to extend its UAAP reign to four years, faces Air Force at 9 a.m. while CEU clashes with FEU at 10:45 a.m. UE takes on UP at 12:30 p.m.

Handled by coach Mike Fermin, Adamson-Mighty Sports hopes to pull off an early surprise when it goes up against Discovery Sports at 2:15 p.m.

Sherwin Ang, customer business manager of Unilever, said they are backing the league and the country’s leading women’s players as they try to get into the level of the country’s Southeast Asian rivals.

Jeff Lim, Unilever key customer manager, said the tournament is also a big boost for the collegiate teams preparing for their respective leagues.

“The tournament will serve as a preview of what to expect in the coming UAAP season, same thing for CEU which is playing in a different league,” said Lim. “We anticipate an exciting battle with the teams all primed up for the event.”

Discovery Sports and Air Force may have the experience but the NU Lady Bulldogs remain as the team to beat owing to their UAAP success.

NU, mentored by Pat Aquino, made history in the UAAP by winning three straight titles in unbeaten fashions.

But Aquino downplayed their chances, saying Discovery Sports and Air Force should be labeled as the teams to beat because of the vast experience of their players.