Duterte Agilas-Goldstar Hardware host Manny Pacquiao Warriors in MVBA 2nd Conference

November 12 (Monday) -- Xavier University Gym6:00PM Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr vs. Arthro Kontra Arthritis
November 13 (Tuesday) -- Almendras Gym6:00PM Goldstar Hardware Duterte Agilas vs. MP Warriors-GenSan
November 15 (Thursday) -- South Cotabato Gym and Cultural Center6:00PM MP Warriors-GenSan vs. Goldstar Hardware Duterte Agilas
November 16 (Friday) -- South Cotabato Gym and Cultural Center6:00PM MP Warriors-GenSan vs. Holcim Pryce Phrma-MisOr
November 18 (Sunday) -- Almendras Gym6:00PM Goldstar Hardware Duterte Agilas vs. Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr
**END OF CLASSIFICATION ROUND**

VISAYAS DIVISION
M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City 8-2
Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue 8-2
Arthro Kontra Arthritis 3-6
MINDANAO DIVISION
MP Warriors-GenSan 3-4
Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr 2-5
Duterte Agilas-Davao 1-6
Game on November 13 – Almendras Gym
6:00PM Duterte Agilas-Goldstar Hardware vs. MP Warriors-GenSan

DAVAO CITY – Valuable playoff position in the 2007 Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Second Conference is at stake on Tuesday night, November 13, when the Goldstar Hardware-backed Duterte Agilas-Davao hosts the MP Warriors-GenSan at the Almendras Gym starting at 6:00PM.

Only two games separate Tuesday night's protagonists, with the Warriors of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao leading the Mindanao Division with a 3-4 win-loss card. The Agilas are at 1-6 while idle Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr of Gov. Oscar Moreno is a game ahead of them at 2-5. MisOr was playing Arthro Kontra Arthritis-Cebu at press time last night at the Xavier University Gym.

Buoyed by tallying their first ever MVBA franchise win in their last outing against Arthro, 85-83, the Agilas now aim for their first winning streak. Against Arthro, Coach Rhoel Josol drew great games from scoring machines Fred Sampilo, Bob Cozy Ilanga and Jonjon Gonzaga while burly Boboy Berami combined with twin towers James Razon and Joel Solis in dominating the inside on both ends of the floor.

On the other hand, MisOr is recovering from its recent road trip of the Visayas Division that ended last Wednesday (November 7) where they lost all three games. Expect Coach Bong Abad to try new combinations with big men Frank Nailon and Randy Sevilla and guards Ramil Tagupa and Rocky Sanchez who were all revelations in the said trip. Team leaders Lowell Briones and Anton Villoria will continue to assert their veteran presence. Another key for MisOr is the health of leading scorer Nathaniel Cruz, who sat out two of their last three road games due to a back injury.

All three Mindanao Division squads are expected to give it their all in the final week of the 30-game classification stage. The balance of the schedule involves the three teams playing amongst themselves so a single win can greatly alter the rankings.

The top teams in each division will earn a bye into the best-of-three division finals. The remaining two teams will slug it out in a separate best-of-three wildcard series with the winner advancing to the division finals.

The Visayas and Mindanao Division champions will meet in another best-of-three affair for the championship of the tournament sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) and made possible by ML Kwarta Padala, Nature’s Spring Water, Sulpicio Lines, Accel, Cokaliong Shipping, Reva Sandals, Gameface.Ph and Nike Basketball.

This early, the Visayas Division picture is clear with M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City getting the outright division finals berth. Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue finished with the same record as M. Lhuillier but lost in the tiebreak thus setting a date with Arthro in the Visayas Division wildcard round starting on November 16 at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Center.(Anthony Servinio)