THE National Student Athletes Championship (NSAC) World Invitational presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will bring together eight teams from the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan and Australia for a three-day competition beginning Friday at the PhilSports Arena.
University of Santo Tomas (UST), San Beda, Jose Rizal University (JRU) and Far Eastern University (FEU) will vie against the Fighting Eagles Nagoya and Tenri University from Japan, National Formosa University from Taiwan and Elite Stacks AUS from Australia in the tournament organized by Asiabasket.
PSC chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio welcomed the staging of the international tournament and the opportunities it creates for Filipino student-athletes.
‘The NSAC World Invitational gives our student-athletes an opportunity to compete against international opposition here at home and gain valuable experience that can contribute to their development,’ Gregorio said.’ The PSC is pleased to support initiatives that create more meaningful competitive opportunities for Filipino athletes.’
Asiabasket Founder and CEO Jai Reyes said the tournament reflects the organization’s goal of creating more opportunities for Philippine basketball to engage with international competition.
‘The NSAC World Invitational is a reflection of our vision to elevate Philippine collegiate basketball beyond our borders,’ Reyes said. ‘We want to provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to compete against quality international programs while showcasing the talent, passion, and competitiveness of Philippine basketball on a larger stage.’
The eight-team tournament will follow a knockout format with classification games, ensuring each participating team plays three games.
JRU faces Elite Stacks AUS, San Beda takes on National Formosa University, UST meets Tenri University,and FEU battles Fighting Eagles Nagoya on opening day.