TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: THE 2ND SEASON OF THE UNIONBANK PHILIPPINES (UBP) UNITY CUP POWERED BY KOTC|STR8

By John Mark Herrera - Published May 23, 2019 

With Basketball as the cornerstone of their camaraderie, through this sport that is dear to the hearts of all Filipinos, the UnionBank Philippines (UBP) Unity Cup is now back for their second season, with the mission to solidify their bond for all the seasons to come.

The successful inaugural season was sparked by a brilliant idea to gather a group of clients and partner businesses. It came into fruition with the six (6) team tournament that opened last June 21, 2017, bannered by UnionBank Philippines, PCCW, Globe ISG, Indra, Questronix, and Talas SMART, with games held at The Upper Deck Liffestyle Center.

In November 8, 2017, UnionBank was crowned as the first champions of the tournament, after outlasting Globe ISG in a thrilling 73-71 victory. Marty Villanueva led the way for the titlists with his 17 markers that went along with four rebounds, five assists and two steals.

This season, seven (7) competing squads will aim for the ultimate goal of conquering the court- led by the defending champions, UnionBank, followed by six challengers namely ABS-CBN Global, Globe ISG, Questronix, SMART, Indra, and Trends.

The quest for this year's champion will feature a classic single-round tournament, where each team will face all of their six opponents in the elimination phase. The top four teams will advance to the knockout semifinals, where the winners will advance to the winner-take-all finale to wrap up this year's tournament, where we will witness another victorious squad hoist the coveted title.

Powered by Kings of the Court|STR8, the UBP Unity Cup Season 2 will open on June 17, 2019 (Monday) at its birthplace; The Upper Deck Lifestyle Center in Ortigas, Pasig City. The tourney will run from June to August 2019, with games held every Monday.