The impending absence of 2006 titlist Emilio Aguinaldo College and losing finalist Adamson University has opened up the title race in the men's basketball tournament of this year's Philippine National University Games that opens Monday at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.

The scenario leaves West Negros College --- the 2005 University Games champion --- as the best-ranked team from last year, owing to its third place finish.

Only four of the eight quarterfinalists last year, including WNC, are returning with USLS, University of Iloilo and many-time champion St. Francis of Assisi among the 22 teams that will in action.

The notable entries this year are Ateneo De Manila University and Far Eastern U, which came in third and fifth, respectively, in the UAAP.

Also expected to figure prominently in the title race are Lyceum University of the Philippines, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, Angeles University Foundation and University of San Carlos from Cebu City.

While the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos will be skipping this year's event, Colegio de San Agustin Bacolod confirmed its participation last night, USLS deputy sports director Malot Lozada said. Another local entry is La Carlota City College.

Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion in Roxas City will sit out this year's tournament to serve out its one-year suspension in the aftermath of its fielding of an ineligible player in the 2006 event.

Completing the cast are Dumaguete-based squads Asian College of Science and Technology, Negros Oriental State University, Foundation University and Silliman University, Mindanao teams Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Zamboanga, Xavier University, Mindanao State University (Marawi) and University of Mindanao and University of Northern Philippines.

Fifty-three schools are joining the week-long games that will calendar 12 sporting disciplines.

Roger Banzuela, the USLS sports director, said the first wave of athletes from AUF are arriving today, while the bulk of delegates is due on Saturday.

The UniGames is presented by the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Sports Commission and supported by Mikasa, Molten, Negros Navigation, Super Ferry, Grand Sports, Asics, Butterfly, Riverside College and Silay City, he said. *CPT

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