15 teams to play in Aklan Governor’s Cup
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Fifteen teams are seeing action in the Inter-Municipalities Basketball Tournament organized by the provincial government of Aklan from March 18 to April 13.
The field will be divided into two groups – Eastern and Western where they will play single round robin elimination with the top three squads in each group advancing to the quarterfinal round.
Billed the Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez Basketball Cup, defending champion Numancia starts the hunt for its second straight team title against teams from the Western side - Lezo, Malinao, Malay, Ibajay, Tangalan, Nabas and Makato in the elimination round.
Rounding the 15-team tournament are teams from the Eastern towns – 2010 runner-up Banga, Altavas, Balete, Madalag, Batan, Libacao and Kalibo.
Provincial Sports Coordinator Wilfredo Neri said the quarterfinals will start on April 2 at the ABL Sports Complex while the rest of the quarterfinal games will be played in six venues.
All of the semifinal and championship games are scheduled at the ABL Sports Complex. The top two teams in the semifinals carry a twice-to beat over the No. 3 and No. 4 ranked teams in the semifinals with the survivors advancing to the best-of-three final series.
Up for grabs is the P40,000 top prize with the runner-up receiving P30,000 plus trophies.
Also a national chess master, Neri said no professional players who played in the Philippine Basketball Association and AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League are allowed to play in this year's Aklan summer basketball league.
The 15 basketball teams comprising this Governor’s Cup will have their traditional parade on March 18 at 8 a.m. from Kalibo Pastrana Park to the ABL Sports Complex. In the lone opening game, Kalibo battles Balete after a brief opening ceremony.
On March 19 in Balete, Aklan, teams from Madalag and Libacao face each other in the curtain raiser while the host town of Balete battles Altavas in the second game.