4 matches to usher in PSSBC caging

Games Saturday (SGS Stadium, Quezon City)

9 a.m. – Letran vs CKSC

10:45 a.m. – San Beda vs MPS

12:30 p.m. – Mapua vs UV

2:15 p.m. – La Salle-Greenhills vs HCHS

MANILA, Philippines — Three former champions, led by 2015 winner Chiang Kai Shek College, kick off their respective campaigns in the sixth Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championships (PSSBC) Dickies Underwear Cup which unfolds Saturday at the SGS Stadium on Araneta Ave., QC.

CKSC clashes with Group B member Letran at 9 a.m. before powerhouse San Beda, the 2014 titlist, faces Manila Patriotic School in Group A showdown at 10:45 a.m.

Mapua-Malayan High School of Science tests CESAFI champion University of Visayas at 12:30 p.m. in their Group C encounter while inaugural winner Hope Christian High School battles reigning NCAA titlist La Salle-Greenhills in Group D duel at 2:15 p.m.

Defending UAAP champion Far Eastern University-Diliman is in Group A, fancied National University is in Group B, University of Santo Tomas is in Group C while 2013 titlist San Sebastian is in Group D.

“Since this is a short tournament, we’re expecting all teams to give it their all, guaranteeing action-packed games all throughout,” said Hapee Toothpaste owner Dr. Cecilio Pedro, the league’s first chairman.

“We are very excited to see how promising the future of Philippine basketball is through these up-and-coming ballers. We are confident that some of them, if not most, will don the country’s tricolors in the future,” said Ironcon Builders boss Jimi Lim.

Dickies Underwear’s Rudy Yu is this year’s chairman. Joining him in the Board of Governors are Freego Jeans’ Eduard Tio, Terry Que of Poly Gloss, Che Lu Bar & Grill’s Jimmy Dela Cruz and MEC Computers’ Leoncio Chua.

Other backers of the annual event dubbed as Battle of Champions are Molten, Choi Garden, Davies Paints, Cherrylume Roofing and Sumo GI Sheets.