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Early grudge match between Davao Occi, Boracay to open PSL DUMPER Cup

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--An early showdown between the two teams tipped to rule the PSL's second conference will take place right at the start of the said tournament, which will be known as the DUMPER Cup.

Davao Occidental, the reigning champion of the Pearl of the Orient Cup, and Boracay, which boasts a star-studded lineup led by PBA legends, collide in the very first match of the conference at 6 p.m. on Nov. 23.

As confirmed by league president Rocky Chan and head of basketball operations Leo Isaac on Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Philippine Sports Commission conference room, the much-anticipated clash will take place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The second game of the opening night doubleheader at 8 p.m. will feature Sta. Rosa and Cagayan De Oro, which became hyped due to the signing of rappers.

An opening ceremony will first take place at 5 p.m.

Fourteen teams will take part in the conference, the others being Nueva Ecija, Batang Kankaloo of Caloocan, Quezon City, Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, San Pedro, Muntinlupa, and College of St. Benilde, which could field in its Team B with the main squad now assured of a place in the NCAA Final 4.

The remainder of the PSL DUMPER Cup eliminations will happen in other arenas in Quezon City, the Trinity University of Asia Gym and the newly-renovated Amoranto Arena, but there will be some stops as well in Caloocan, Sta. Rosa City, Manila, Bicol, and possibly even Boracay.

Chan bared that the pristine island in Aklan has been tapped to host the PSL All-Star Game.

The teams will play a single round-robin elimination round with the top eight teams clinching places in the quarterfinals.

The top four teams will have an easier path to the semifinals than the next four as they will gain twice-to-beat advantages in the quarterfinals.

The semifinals and the finals will be best-of-three affairs with the championship round likely to take place also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum by mid-February.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno

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