THE city is hosting the weeklong international basketball tournament of Sinag Liga Asya starting last Saturday, July 5, through July 11.
Last Friday, July 4, players from Canada began arriving in the city in preparation for the competition.
According to Leo Isaac, chief of operations of Sinag Liga Asya, a total of 35 teams from the United States, Canada and across Asia will be competing.
Today’s games will be held at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) and the gym of Ateneo de Manila–Xavier University.
The Kong Hua gym will also be used starting July 8, as USTP’s facility will be unavailable that day.
“There will be a total of five to six games a day,” Isaac said.
He added that the 36 participating teams will battle for a spot in the championship game on July 11.
The tournament features five age divisions: under-19, under-17, under-15 and under-13.
Cagayan de Oro, led by Carmen Barangay Chairman Rainier Joaquin ‘Kikang’ Uy, is fielding its own representative —Team Higala.
“Players came from overseas just to take part in this yearly gathering of young, skillful, talented players who will try to showcase their talent, competing in international or foreign basketball against local basketball,” Isaac said.
He emphasized that this is also a chance to measure how local basketball players can fare against international competition, noting that all athletes in the tournament are of Filipino descent.
Meanwhile, city administrator Hilario Raagas said the tournament is a great opportunity for Cagayan de Oro to boost its sports and tourism sectors.
“With 600 players coming from different places, they’ll dine in restaurants and use taxis, which will help boost the local economy,” Raagas said.
Last year’s tournament was hosted in Pampanga. Organizers announced that admission is free and games will run daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
