PBA Youngstars Sweet 6 under way

MANILA, Philippines - The 2012 PBA Coca-Cola Youngstars National Finals fires off today with all six regional qualifiers, including four provincial champions, seeing action at the Treston Gym in Taguig.

Opening the Sweet Six championships for boys 13 to 16 years old is the clash between National Capital Region top teams Taytay, bannered by San Beda, and Caloocan Selection at 9 a.m. preceded by the opening ceremony to be graced by PBA commissioner Chito Salud, league operations and technical head Ricky Santos, media bureau chief Willie Marcial, and top Coca-Cola executives, led by Powerade Tigers governor Ronnie Asuncion.

At 11 a.m., Northern Luzon bet Pampanga, represented by Holy Angel University, takes on District 1 of Southern Luzon winner Laguna, while Cebu’s University of Visayas tangles with Mindanao’s Holy Child School of Davao at 12:30 p.m.

The national finals, a single round affair with the top two teams disputing the title, caps a month-long provincial elimination highlighted by regional championships in Northern and Southern Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and NCR.

“This will be the climax of the PBA’s desire to develop talent and instill values important to our society and which put emphasis on healthy and active lifestyle, self-discipline, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit with honesty, humility and integrity,” said Salud.

“This is part of the PBA’s vision to be in the forefront of family-oriented activities that strengthen the backbone of our society,” said Salud.

Asuncion said the nationwide response to the Youngstars tournament was overwhelming.

“It really warms the heart to witness the kind of interest shown by everybody in this project, especially the youth in the provinces,” said Asuncion.