By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Seven Negros Occidental-based players are rostered to play in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament that kicked off last week at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavillion.

Among the seven Negrenses suiting up for the upcoming UAAP collegiate season, four traced their roots from Negros Occidental and three from Bacolod City.

The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons have two Negrenses in their roster in Silay City-native Harold Alarcon and Bago City-native Reyland Torres.

On the other hand, the Adamson University Falcons have two in Negros Occidental’s Isabela-native rookie Kenji Cañete and Pontevedra’s Kobe Demisana.

The University of the East Red Warriors also have two Bacolod-based players in their lineup in rookies Dylan Despi and Jax Distrito, nephew of former PBA player Rudy Distrito.

De La Salle University Green Archers also have one in Bacolodnon Luis Pablo.

Other participating schools in UAAP Season 88 are the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, and the National University Bulldogs./ASC, WDJ