EIGHT of the country’s leading colleges and universities, including four teams from the UAAP, will take centerstage in the first-ever Smart Philippine Intercollegiate Badminton Championships on Sept. 10-11 at Centro Atletico in Cubao, Quezon City.

The teams are divided into two groups in the tournament that will follow a mixed team-tie format, according to PBAD vice president Jude Turcuato.

“It was a good response from these universities and colleges that they have decided to join this inaugural tournament. We hope that this could build something in the years to come,” said Turcuato.

Group A is composed of the four teams from the UAAP namely University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, Adamson University, and Ateneo de Manila University, while Group B is comprised of NCAA team San Beda University, and the three state colleges and universities: Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Rizal Technological University, and Technological University of the Philippines

Hostilities kick off at 8 a.m. on Saturday with the battle between UAAP rivals UP and Ateneo, along with the UST-Adamson tussle in Group A.

San Beda will open its campaign against TUP in Group B. PUP and RTU square off in the only other match

The afternoon program starting at 1 p.m. will pit UP against Adamson and UST against Ateneo in Group A, and San Beda against RTU and PUP against TUP in Group B

The teams resume battle the following day with UP and UST, and Ateneo and Adamson taking on each other in Group A, and San Beda and PUP, and RTU and TUP closing the group phase eliminations against each other at 8 a.m.

The top two teams from the group stages will face each other in the final at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

The tournament is organized by the Philippine Badminton Association, powered by SMART Communications, and supported by the MVP Sports Foundation, Ducksports, and Apacs.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya