PSL Pilipinas Super League officials, led by President Rocky Chan, Vice President Ray Alao, Commiissioner Marc Pingris and Operations Head Leo Isaac introduce the Dumper Cup tournament to the media. Photo courtesy of PSL Facebook page

PSL Dumper Cup at Big Dome

November 19, 2022 Robert Andaya 566 views

A BIGGER and better Pilipinas Super League (PSL) awaits basketball fans when the country’s newest professional league comes off the wraps on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

To be known as the PSL Dumper Cup, the tournament presented by Dumper party-list and Winzer will be partcipated in by 14 teams led by defending champion Davao Occidental Tigers and newcomer Boracay Islanders.

“When we started the first conference, we held it in Zamboanga and was a bubble tournament. The teams stayed there for almost two months. This time around, medyo maluwag na and we will do it here in Luzon so the games will be moving from different places,” said PSL President Rocky Chan during the media launch at the Gloria Maris Shark’s Fin Restaurant in San Juan.

“Mas maganda at mas malaki (second conference). Ang mga teams, mas malalakas ngayon at nagulat nga kami dahil lahat ng teams namin nakakuha ng mga quality players,” added PSL Vice President Ray Alao.

Joining Chan and Alao in the press conference are PBA legend and Gilas Pilipinas great Marc Pingris and PSL Operations head Leo Isaac.

Aside from Davao and Boracay, the other participating teams are the Nueva Ecija Slashers, ARS Warriors, Batang Kankaloo, Cagayan de Oro-PSP, Homelab Nation Manila, Quezon City Beacons, Muntinlupa, Sta. Rosa Laguna Lions, Bicol Spicy Oragons, Pampanga Giant Lanterns, Lakan-Bulacan and Pampanga Royce.

Opening-day action at the Big Dome will pit Davao against Boracay at 6 p.m. and Sta. Rosa Laguna Lions against Cagayan De Oro–PSP at 8 p.m.

PSL CEO and Santa Maria, Davao Occidental Mayor Claude Benjamin “Dinko” Bautista II ssaid the league hopes to duplicate, if not, surpass, its initial success.

“I’m elated for the upcoming season, starting this on November 23. We have a great group of people running the league, making sure everything is on top from the executives all the way throught the referees and barkers.” said Bautista.

“But what I’m most excited about is the level of competition. This season, fans can expect the competition to be much tougher this time around.” added Bautista.

“From star-studded Boracay and Davao, to the grittier teams of Bicol and Pampanga, better competition brings out better basketball, and all I can say about better basketball is that the fans would enjoy even more.”

Isaac said tournament format is a single-round elimination, with the top four teams gaining twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinals. The crossover semifinals will be best-of-three.

The championship will be a best-of-three affair with the league expecting to wind up at the of February 2023.

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