Seventeen men’s and 13 women’s teams will measure forces in the 51st edition at the UPR of Bayamón
BAYAMON, Puerto Rico – With a full house and no excuses, the El Chicharrón Invitational Tournament enters the scene this Tuesday as the first real thermometer of university basketball, bringing together for the first time all the teams of the Interuniversity Athletic League in both branches.
The event, organized by the Athletic Department of the University of Puerto Rico of Bayamón, will be held from tomorrow, Tuesday, until Sunday, January 25, on the Vaqueros and Las Vaqueras field, with games starting at 3:00 in the afternoon.
“It is a tournament that serves as a preamble to the LAI basketball championship. For the first time we have the participation of 17 teams in the men’s branch, all the teams. There will also be the 13 teams of the women’s branch. There has always been a little less participation, one or two less, but this year all the teams are there,” said Gerardo “Jerry” Batista, athletic director of the UPR of Bayamón, in statements offered to the LAI.
The men’s tournament will feature a repechage match between the universities of Cayey and Utuado to define entry to group A. The competition will be divided into four groups of four teams, with at least three matches guaranteed for each quintet. The best two in each group will advance to the quarterfinals.
In the women’s branch there will be no playoffs. The format includes two groups of four teams and two of three, of which the best two will advance to the quarterfinals. From that stage until the championship game, the format will be single elimination.
The El Chicharrón Tournament precedes the LAI regular season, which will begin on February 5 and culminate in the 2026 Sports Festival, scheduled for April 25 to 28 at the Mayagüez Sports and Recreation Palace.
In the 50th edition, held in 2025, the Vaqueros and Vaqueras of the UPR of Bayamón took the title of the invitational tournament. However, in the LAI championship the honors went to the Vaqueras de Bayamón and the Halcones de la Universidad Central de Bayamón.
“In the Chicharrón tournament, usually, the teams that reach the semifinals and finals are always involved in the LAI final. It is a tournament that gives you the opportunity to see what is coming,” said Batista.
The Vaqueras leader also acknowledged the adjustments to his squad for this edition. “We are a team that lost a few students, but it is a talented group. We hope to compete for the final spots.”
Access the League’s digital platform for more information on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laiproficial y YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LAIPR.Oficial and updating the results, photos and videos on the social networks Instagram @laipr.oficial, the Easy Tournament application and the portal www.laipr.org.
