By Graham C. Lim
The inaugural competitions of the Asia Pacific University 3X3 Basketball League are set.
The tournament will be organized by the Asia Pacific University Sports Union (APUSU) and its affiliate member, the Asian University Basketball Federation (AUBF), and other subsidiaries in the Philippines.
The Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), a newly registered member of the Asia Pacific University Sports Union (APUSU), has confirmed hosting the 1st Asia Pacific University 3x3 Basketball League (APU3x3-L) to be held from May 17- 20 next year.
The TUP basketball venue is well-situated as it is located nearby the City Government of Manila in the Philippines.
The Asian University Basketball Federation (AUBF), APUSU’s affiliated associate member, has been designated to handle the technical aspect of the tournament through its partner in the Philippines, the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP).
Dr. Jesus Rodrigo F. Torres, TUP President, will act as the Chairman of the Organizing Committee with Prof. Robert Milton A. Calo, FESSAP Executive Vice President, as co-Chair. Dr. Torres is also a member of the FESSAP Board of Trustees as one of its Vice Presidents.
Further, Dr. Torres appointed his Athletic Director, Allan Soria, as the League Director tasked to supervise the tournament operations and establish the format of competitions. Soria is also the Executive Assistant of the FESSAP State University Affairs and a member of the FESSAP Board of Trustees.
To entice foreign universities to take part in the games, they will not be charged a participation fee. The pickup arrival and departure of the foreign delegations will be arranged by the Organizing Committee. The foreign teams, however, will have to take care of their hotel accommodations. They should book their hotel within the vicinity of the TUP area as there are various hotels and hostels nearby and food is easily accessible.
Members of the State Colleges & Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) have been invited to participate in the 3x3 League. Each school will be allowed to field in no more than two (2) teams, according to Soria.
Leonardo (Ding) Andres, the National Basketball League-Philippines (NBL) Commissioner, will hold the local Qualifying Tournament in February 2022, with the top four (4) university teams eligible to participate in the APU3x3 League.
Only those universities that have registered with the FESSAP will be invited to participate in the Qualifier.
Edwin C. Fabro, the FESSSAP President, has been informed of the developments in the staging of the 1st APU3x3 League. Fabro has given his full support to the TUP as the tournament host, and in particular, TUP President Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres.
Mr. Alvin Tai Lian, the FESSAP Chairman of the Board and President Emeritus of the APUSU, likewise is 100 percent behind the decision of the Philippines’ Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) to host this prestigious 3x3-League.
Mr. Mustaza Ahmad, the APUSU president from Malaysia, where the APUSU headquarters is located, will issue his official stamp of approval once all the details of the 1st APU 3x3 League have been finalized with the host-TUP.
Top executives of the APUSU and the president of the Asian University Basketball Federation (AUBF) have been invited to grace the opening ceremonies in May 2022.
(gcl)