Title Fight: Champions Square Off in Iloilo
Rewritten Article:
The electrifying action kicked off yesterday in Iloilo on April 27, during the grand debut of the "Battle of Champions" at the Pavia Multi-Purpose Gym in Iloilo.
Catching our attention wasn't just the event itself, but the fact that practically every local basketball player from Iloilo and Cebu was there.
The contenders are eight teams, two of which consist entirely of top-notch basketball players from Iloilo and Cebu.
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Some notable teams include CM Farm and Team Khalifa, with almost 80% of their players being from Iloilo or Cebu-based.
The other four teams are based in Iloilo but boast players from Manila and Cebu, such as RKF Industrial and Installation Services, Oking Merchandise, Double 8, and Qualitech.
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RTF, helmed by Ryan Keith Fio, is one of the title contenders. They have previously won the 2025 Cebu City Sinulog Cup and were runners-up in the Cebu City Mayor's Cup, both held in Iloilo earlier this year in January.
This event marks the most significant basketball league outside or counterpart league in the Visayas region, and Iloilo is excited to host it since it is under the supervision of the Ilonggo Sports and Events Management Services (ISEMS) organized by Rolando Cunanan, who also serves as the commissioner.
If you're lucky, you might catch them preparing for the event today, as we received invitations to visit Iloilo for the tournament.
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From April 27 to 28, the initial rounds will take place in Pavia City. From April 29 to May 4, the event will move to the Passi City Arena.
Two local government units have agreed to support the tournament, seeking the approval of the entrepreneurs in Iloilo.
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Besides the main event, there will also be a slam dunk contest and a 3-point shootout.
According to Cunanan in an interview, there is also a plan to level up several basketball tournaments across various regions. Boosting tourism through sports is one of his objectives. The plan is to turn this tournament into a regular annual event.
While specific details about the participating teams are scant, it is known that this tournament will feature some of the biggest names in the basketball scene, including those from the UAAP, NCAA, and other commercial tournaments.
Despite the lack of concrete details, it seems that the possibility of this event taking place is quite high, considering the promotions and the support from marketing and local government units.
Good luck to everyone! See you there!
- The Battle of Champions inaugural event occurred in Pavia Multi-Purpose Gym, Iloilo, on April 27, attracting numerous local basketball players from both Iloilo and Cebu.
- Remarkable teams in this competition are CM Farm, Team Khalifa, and RTF, with most of their members hailing from Iloilo or Cebu.
- The other four teams originate from Iloilo but have players from Manila and Cebu, such as RKF Industrial and Installation Services, Oking Merchandise, Double 8, and Qualitech.
- RTF, led by Ryan Keith Fio, is one of the title contenders, having previously won the 2025 Cebu City Sinulog Cup and finished as runners-up in the Cebu City Mayor's Cup, both held in Iloilo earlier this year.
- Two local government units in Iloilo have agreed to support the tournament, hoping for entrepreneurs' approval in backing the event.
- Alongside the main event, there will be side attractions, including a slam dunk contest and a 3-point shootout.
- Rolando Cunanan, the commissioner of the Ilonggo Sports and Events Management Services (ISEMS), aims to escalate the tournament across various regions, boosting tourism through sports, and transforming it into an annual event.
