For the first time since its inception in 2013, the Philippine Superliga will hold a collegiate conference called the Collegiate Grand Slam set to start on Nov.3 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The new league was launched in a press conference held Thursday at the Club Filipino in San Juan City, attended by PSL officials headed by chairman Philip Ella Juico and several coaches and players from the participating schools.

"We are organizing a collegiate tournament in line with our vision-mission of strengthening ties with institutions of higher learning," said Juico, also citing that products from these institutions look at the PSL as the best destination after their collegiate duties are over.

" There is no better way than cementing these ties early and getting them used to the PSL's 'Iba Ang Laro Dito' brand," he added.

Six collegiate teams will battle it out for the inaugural CGS crown, which will be played alongside the season-ending Chooks-to-Go All-Filipino Conference.

UAAP teams Univeristy of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, University of the East, and Univeristy of Santo Tomas will take part, together with PSL debutantes De La Salle- Dasmariñas and College of San Agustin-Biñan.

According to PSL President Ian Laurel, winners of the CGS will not only win the coveted trophy, but gets a chance to fly to Thailand to attend a training camp there.

"These teams are preparing for their big tournaments so we will give incentives for their training camp," said Laurel. "Most likely it will be in Thailand for seven to ten days and this will be awarded to the winner."

The Lady Maroons and Lady Warriors kick off festivities in the first game at 12 noon, to be followed by the CSA-UST tussle at 2pm.- Mariquita Pangilinan