The Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup kicks off on Sunday, April 30, as the tournament looks to include a women’s category and bring in more talents from outside the country.

Pinoyliga founder Benny Benitez talks about the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup Season 2 as tournament commissioner Wilson Ang listens during the press conference last Tuesday at the University Hotel in UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Pinoyliga Photo)

The league just concluded its Pinoyliga Next Man Up Cup 2023 last March 6, with Team B players from San Beda emerging victorious.

The Collegiate Cup 2023 sees a 17-team tournament which will be split into two divisions, with Group Prime being led by UAAP’s Ateneo along with National University, De La Salle, Lyceum, San Sebastian, Jose Rizal University, Mapua, Philippines Christian University and Guang Ming College.

On the other hand, NCAA’s College of Saint Benilde will be joined by UAAP schools University of the Philippines, Adamson, University of the East, Far Eastern University, along with Emilio Aguinaldo College and Next Man Cup champion San Beda University in Group Edge.

The games will be held in different venues on the scheduled days. Every Tuesday, the players will see action at Enderun College, while the games will be at Philippine Buddha Care Academy and EAC, every Friday and Sunday, respectively.

The playoffs then are expected to start on June 20 with a play-in.

League owner Benny Benitez’s excitement is through the roof as his big plans for the tournament’s future have been set in motion.

“We’re very fortunate that top schools played for us. San beda, UP, Perpetual. Seven teams ang goal lang namin that time was just to start something. For the next year and the succeeding years, it will grow,” said Benitez.

“‘Yong vision ko of college basketball in the Philippines, when did the Next Man Cup just in time after the UAAP and NCAA. So that this could be the avenue and give opportunities for those next man up. Ang sabi namin sa mga teams ‘please, give us your B players, your reserved and a few on your third strings.’

Alam natin ‘yong next quarter of the year is very critical. Kailangan tayo ‘yong tutulong sa college basketball teams. We’re really trying to align with the different schools,” he added.

With the success of collegiate basketball’s preseason tournaments, Benitez is looking to diversify the league with the inclusion of women players, while also growing regionally and soon after internationally.

“Our vision is to grow internationally. Probably within the Pinoyliga Cup, maybe now, maybe next year, to bring in talents from outside the country, andiyan ‘yong Fil-Am Nation, from Italy and from Australia. But hindi natin sila papupuntahin dito for a pocket tournament, they will compete with us. And then, at the same time, let’s replicate this going through Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” said Benitez.

“That’s why I’m excited. This is a 5-10 year plan. Because this is part of the community we’re trying to grow,” he added.