The top four college basketball teams in Bacolod City will test each other’s strength this week when the 1st LNA7 Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament opens this Friday at 3:30 p.m. at the West Negros University Gym.

Last year’s NOPSSCEA first runner-up University of St. La Salle Stingers will clash against University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Rams in the curtain raiser, while defending champion WNU Mustangs will take on Colegio de San Agustin-Bacolod at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, the winner between the USLS vs. UNO-R match-up will face the loser in the WNU vs. CSA-B game at 3:30 p.m., while the loser between the Stingers and the Rams’ game will play against the winner in the Mustangs-Eagles face-off.

Organized to give basketball followers in the city a chance to get a glimpse at the present lineup of the top four collegiate teams in the NOPSSCEA, the tournament will end on Sunday with the top two teams vying for the title.

NOPSSCEA sports task force chairman Anthony Carlo Agustin said the three-day tournament will serve as a pre-season tune-up game for the four teams.

“This season will be one of the hardest one to choose a favorite team to win,” Agustin said. He added that all four teams are so well balanced and familiar with the type of game each other plays, and stressed that there will be no underdog or a dark horse this season.

The Mustangs will still be mentored by Troy Sarabia, while Eugene Opu-an will try to steer the Stingers into the finals, once again, this year.

Calling the shots for the Eagles will be Lorenzo Solinap, after talks of having Pewee Demonteverde on the CSA-B bench fizzled out. Gerome Aledron remains as head coach for the Rams.*NAB

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