Twelve teams, eight from the Baguio Benguet Educational Athletic League and four from Pangasinan are enlisted to play in the inaugural Z League that will be launched on July 29 at the University of Baguio gym.
UB’s Cardinals and the seven schools from Baguio and Benguet return to the hardcourt as they renew their rivalry but with a twist as Pangasinan teams will join them in the single round robin event.
It will serve as a prelude for the resumption of the BBEAL which has been in the ice storage since 2020 when Baguio and the entire Luzon were declared under lockdown due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
UB is the defending BBEAL champion.
Enlisted also are the University of the Cordilleras, Saint Louis University, the Philippine Military Academy, Baguio Central University, Baguio College of Technology and the Benguet schools of Cordillera Career Development College and Benguet State University.
The BBEAL has 10 member schools with the University of the Philippines and the Pines City College missing out in the upcoming event. The BBEAL opens on October with BSU as host.
The Pangasinan schools are the University of Luzon and R-1 CHESAA 2023 champion Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan, the Calasiao based Philippine College of Science and Technology and the latest entry, and the WCC Aeronautical and Technological College in Binalonan town.
The Guico owned WCC is actually the recent addition to the tournament. Guico is a Bolinao political clan whose members include Ramon, Jr., the current congressman of the province’s fifth district and whose son, Ramon III is the governor.
The Z League or the 2023 Pre-Season Inter-Collegiate Basketball League North of Luzon will also have games in Dagupan and all the participating teams will play or a 6-game event, said commissioner Daniel Soria, a former UB Cardinal, coach and UB athletic director and one of the remaining founders of the BEAL/BBEAL.
The opening on Saturday will include a muse competition as well as a three point and slam dunk competitions.
Games will ensue featuring SLU against UL, BCT versus the PhilCST, CCDC facing WCC and host UB against LNU.
Games on Sunday will be at CCDC Admirals gym in Buyagan, La Trinidad whil PMA hosts on Tuesday. Pigeon Lobien
