INCENTIVES in the form of cash and an overseas stint will be staked in the grand collegiate tournament the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) intends to stage later this year.

The bonuses, according to BAP-SBP executive director Patrick Gregorio, aim to further perk up the competition in the proposed merger tournament between the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

But how much and which among the overseas tournaments—the Southeast Asia Basketball Association, the Asian Youth or even the World Youth Championship—will be up for grabs would still be determined.

Gregorio told the BusinessMirror about the incentives after he met with BAP-SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan and vice president Ricky Vargas Wednesday.

“We are offering glory and gold for this tournament just to show how serious the BAP-SBP is for this project,” said Gregorio.

“I don’t want to preempt our president but we’re talking here of millions of pesos that will really help the sports programs of the school. Alam ninyo naman si MVP, he really wanted this project to push through,” Gregorio added.

The proposed tournament is intended to coincide with the centennial celebration of the University of the Philippines (UP), one of the member-schools of the UAAP where Gregorio is an alumnus.

The tournament name as well as its format and rules have yet to be established though.

Gregorio said he is currently talking with school officials and their respective coaches about the tournament.

“This is a win-win situation for everybody especially in terms of the marketing and broadcasting sides of the event. They really welcome the idea,” Gregorio explained.

Pangilinan, Gregorio said, will personally write school officials about the tournament.

“Probably next week we’ll be able to start and sit down with them [school officials] para masimulan na natin ito. This is one dramatic event that definitely would strengthen the federation,” Gregorio added.

Funding is not a problem in RP’s Olympic gold bid

WITH a guarantee that money will not be a problem, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has tasked the associations of boxing, taekwondo, swimming, archery and wushu to immediately submit their budget requirements for the Beijing Olympics.

Korean Shin eyes hat trick

Two-time championship division winner Crystal Shin of South Korea goes for her third consecutive championship in the 45th edition of the Southern Ladies Golf Tournament set from February 6 to 8 at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Binitin, Murcia, Negros Occidental.

INCENTIVES in the form of cash and an overseas stint will be staked in the grand collegiate tournament the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) intends to stage later this year.

Randy Suico may not challenge for the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title in Las Vegas after all.

This after international promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud told the BusinessMirror that world champion David Diaz already has an opponent signed up for March 15 fight.

BASED on the world rankings, the badminton mixed doubles team of Kennievic and Kennie Asuncion has a slim chance of making it to this year’s Beijing Olympics.

THAILAND Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Willy Wang and Mariane Mariano lead a nine-man team that will train in China beginning January 9 for the Beijing Olympics.

WHEN I learned that Ruben Laureano’s prized galloper Irene’s Fantasy will be running in a major stakes late last month, I didn’t wink twice when I told Ruben that his horse would certainly win.