MLKP Cebu embarks on its quest for a rare three-peat

DEFENDING CHAMPION M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City embarks on its quest for a rare three-peat this weekend with the opening of the 2008 Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Sinulog Cup at the New Cebu Coliseum starting this Sunday (January 27).

Scoring the triple-crown won’t be easy for the wards of Michel Lhuillier and Coach Raul Alcoseba, as three tough teams from Metro Manila have confirmed their participation and are on a mission to knock the crown off the Jewelers’ heads in the weeklong tournament sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP).

Leading the invaders are the Toyota-Balintawak Road Kings of Coach Ariel Vanguardia, the Third Placer in the last Philippine Basketball League (PBL) conference.

The Road Kings will test drive their tuned up roster featuring MVBA veteran Ruel Balgos of the Toyota-Iloilo Turbos and fellow Vis-Min players Patrick Cabahug of Cebu and Marvin Hayes of Iloilo. The rest of the crew consists of Erwin Santa Maria, Floyd Dedicatoria, JR Sena, Paul Guerrero, Jonathan Aldave, Chito Jaime, Erick Rodriguez, Bryan Faundo, Richard Cole, Marvin Ortiguerra, Ramon Retaga, Eugene Tan and Cholo Villanueva. Team manager is Ramon Oben.

Coach Vanguardia added that their new recruit Rino Berame, formerly of the MVBA’s Arthro Kontra Arthritis, will not yet suit up for the Road Kings. The 6’7” Berame will remain with the University of the Visayas varsity until the end of the current school year and will play for the Lancers in the Sinulog Cup. The other participating team is returning MVBA member Montaña Pawnshop-Davao of businessman Armando Quibod.

Also from the PBL are the Pharex Medics under Coach Carlo Tan. The Medics are coming off a respectable debut conference where they reached the quarterfinals.

Pharex is expected to parade former Cebu Landmaster stalwart Richard Ian Saladaga plus other Vis-Min talents Ronnie Bughao of Cebu, JR Gerilla of Leyte, Francis Allera of South Cotabato and Jam Alfad of Sulu. The rest of the Medics are Fritz Bauzon, Gilbert Bulawan, Sean Co, Jeff de Guzman, Gester Ebuen, Elmer Espiritu, Ronnie Matias, Emerson Oreta, Darryl Pepito and Don Villamin. Team manager is Jean Alabanza, a former MBA pro with the Cagayan de Oro Amigos.

Adding fuel to the PBL teams’ is their desire to avenge the defeats of their fellow PBL teams in the many invitational tilts organized by the MVBA since its birth in 2006. The likes of TeleTech, Henkel-Sista, Dazz and Burger King have all ventured into Cebu only to come home empty-handed.

The third Metro Manila team, Fifth Avenue Telecoms, is the champion of the Metro Basketball League (MBL). The team is owned by Mike Dullas with former national player and PBA veteran Junel Mendiola as playing coach.

This early, Fifth Avenue is emerging as the dark horse of the tournament. A look at their roster reveals a lot of name players led by Cebuanos Braulio Lim and Roberts Labagala, Ferdinand Go of Butuan City and Ronnie Zagala of Sultan Kudarat. Also in the roster are former PBA players Jeff Sanders, Marlon Legaspi, Allan Salangsang, Ruel Buenaventura, Gilbert Malabanan and Billy Moody. Completing the team are Angelus Raymundo, Al Vergara, Rommel David and Richard Litonjua.

The presence of a very stellar cast is enough to satisfy the appetite of basketball-hungry Cebuano fans and jumpstart what is seen to be another banner year for basketball in Southern Philippines with the MVBA at the forefront.(Anthony Servinio)