SMART Philippine Intercollegiate Badminton Championships set this weekend

SMART PIBC Pools

The first-ever SMART Philippine Intercollegiate Badminton Championships will commence this weekend, September 10 and 11, at the courts of Centro Atletico in Quezon City.

Eight institutions from three leagues have been invited, with the field being split into two pools that will face off in the mixed team-tie format.

Pool A is comprised of the four participating UAAP schools: Adamson, the Ateneo de Manila, the University of the Philippines, and the University of Santo Tomas.

Pool B features the lone NCAA participant in San Beda, followed by SCUAA stalwarts Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Rizal Technological University, and Technological University of the Philippines.

Philippine Badminton Association vice president Jude Turcuato shares, "It was a good response from these universities and colleges that they have decided to join this inaugural tournament. We hope that this could build something in the years to come."

Saturday will feature two sets of matchups, with the 8am fixture seeing UP-Ateneo, UST-Adamson in Group A and San Beda-TUP and PUP-RTU, followed by the 1pm fixtures comprised of UP-Adamson, UST-Ateneo, San Beda-RTU, and PUP-TUP.

The final set of preliminary matches will see UP-UST, Ateneo-Adamson, San Beda-PUP, and RTU-TUP on Sunday at 8am.

Teams finishing at the top of their respective pools will face off for the championship at 1pm that day.

The tournament is organized by the Philippine Badminton Association, powered by SMART Communications, and supported by the MVP Sports Foundation, Ducksports, and Apacs.