North Luzon Monitor

North Luzon

Cong Yap Cup fires off next month, women’s v’ball debut

After the success of the inaugural season of its basketball tournament, the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup returns and this time, will include women’s volleyball.

Set to open October 5, defending champion La Trinidad will have its hands full as it defends the men’s basketball crown.

La Trinidad defeated Bokod in two games in the best of three finals to win the cup including cash prizes for the team and a cooperative within the municipality. Similar cash incentives were given to the top four.

Unlike last year where they fielded two teams, the capital town will only have one team as they vie for the top purse in the single round – robin format tournament that will have 15 players, down from 20 last year.

“We need teams and players to be competitive,” Kevin See, Cong. Eric Yap’s chief of staff said, adding they they expect mid-season games against visiting teams and a repeat of the showdown of the men’s basketball all-star team against the Motoclub team composed of retired Philippine Basketball Association players.

With 13 teams, a total of 78 games are scheduled in the single round robin “home and away” elimination round where towns could host games.

Commissioner Roderick Osis said that games are expected to be staged in Itogon, Sablan,Tuba, Kabayan, Mankayan and Kapangan. Other venues include Buguias and maybe even Tublay and Atok.

Most of the games are scheduled at the Benguet Sports Complex where the post-season games will be staged also.

“After the quarterfinals, the top four teams will engage in a single round-robin format to determine the final two teams. The two best-performing teams from this round will face off in a best-of-three championship series, adding a layer of excitement and unpredictability as teams vie for a coveted finals berth,” said Osis.

He added in cases of ties, the win over the other is applied for two teams, with the team that won which  will advance. However, if three or more teams are tied, the tie break will be applied.

The champion receives a trophy and PhP250,000 in cash, while a cash counterpart will be given to the chosen organization.

See said that each team must identify two beneficiaries, one each for basketball and volleyball.

Osis said that teams can also get “imports” who will come from other towns from Benguet. Players who moved to a new town and have their place of vote changed to that town will be treated as a ”local” player.

Coordinators and their coaches can now have their tryouts which they can post on the tournament Facebook page. He said that deadline of line ups will be on September 15 so to give time for the making of uniforms.

Osis said that coordinators can also submit the line-up of their volleyball teams. The towns have existing teams who played in the Governor’s Cup that concluded last June. NLMonitor

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