Expect more competitive basketball action when the 8th Tan Kek Pin Memorial Basketball Cup unfolds Jan. 20 at the Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

For the first time since its inception in 2001, the tournament will feature a class A division, where former and current varsity standouts will be allowed to play, increasing the level of competitiveness of the event that was once limited to hobbyists.

With barely a week before tip off, 22 teams have confirmed participation in the tournament organized by the Fil-Sino Athletic Club.

Entered in Class A are World of Fun, West Negros College-based BBC, BAPRO, Province of Negros Occidental , Probac and Talisay Basketball Team.

Class B, where ex-varsitarians under 40-years are not allowed, has attracted 16 teams. Valiant Bank, which won the crown at the expense of Davies Paints-Probac last year, is not fielding a team this year.

Disputing the title are Rentas Knights, Probac Team B, NOBC-B, Province of Negros Occidental B , BACIWA, Marko, RG Ballclub, Davies Paint, Nepan Sales, LXG, Air Power Systems (Filsino), Meguiars Streetwash (Filsino), Café Breizh (Filsino) and three other Fil-SIno squads.

The drawing of lots in the Class B division was to be held last night at the Po Hang Gym, FAC president Ralph Richard Tan said in a press release. The teams were to be divided into 4 brackets will play in a two-phase elimination round.

The tournament is held in honor of basketball patron Tan Kek Pin, who supported the Negros Occidental Basketball League during the 1970s.*CPT

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