METEORS OPEN TITLE RETENTION BID AT HOME

Games Today (September 9) – Arturo S. Lugod Memorial Sports and Cultural Center

4:00 PM M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos vs. Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue

6:00 PM Misamis Oriental Meteors vs. MP Warriors of GenSan



METEORS OPEN TITLE RETENTION BID AT HOME



GINGOOG CITY – Reigning Liga Pilipinas National Champion Misamis Oriental Meteors finally begins the formal defense of their crown on friendly home grounds against three familiar foes today at the Arturo S. Lugod Memorial Sports and Cultural Center for Day One of the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Misamis Oriental Leg.



Out to challenge the wards of Gov. Oscar S. Moreno and Coach Jun Noel are the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos, Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue and the MP Warriors of GenSan – who together with the Meteors were members of the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) from 2006 to 2007. The MVBA merged with the National Basketball Conference (NBC) to give birth to Liga Pilipinas in 2008.



The Meteors take the floor at 6:00 PM against the unpredictable Warriors of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. Coach Noel has retained eight members from the championship team – guards Ramil Tagupa, Lyndon Gudez, Mark Moreno, forwards Rocky Sanchez and Jerome Numeran and centers Mark Kong, Erian Daja and Philip Butel. The Meteors then reacquired shooter Patrick Cabahug, signed free agents Eder Saldua, Arden Guiyab and newcomers Neil Raneses, Melvin Mamaclay and Rocky Clavel.



Warriors Coach Ramon Pido hopes to better their team’s Third Place finish in the Cebu Leg three weeks ago. To do so, the Warriors need big games from centers Dondon Mendoza and Christian Cabatu and prolific guards Louie Medalla, Don Tadena, Apol Coronado, Jethrone Recustodio, Dennis Concha, Jomer Rubi and Bob Cozy Ilanga.



In the first game, Cebu Leg champion Ninos tackle cross-town rival Landmaster. The Ninos of Michel J. Lhuillier and Coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba are the only undefeated team in the conference backed by Smart, Accel, Molten, Calcium-Cee, Gatorade, Air 21 and Burlington and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).



The Ninos have 15 Liga Tour points from their four-game sweep of their home leg, currently good for Third Place in the overall rankings behind idle Pampanga Leg champion Trace-Laguna Stallions (19) and Taguig Leg champion Forward Taguig (18) and a point ahead of Fourth Placer Smart-Pampanga Buddies (14). Laguna, Taguig and Pampanga though have already completed two legs each.



The Ninos emerged as the most awarded franchise during the MVBA’s two-year run and have continued their success in Liga Pilipinas with seven leg championships. Coach Alcoseba has at his disposal a veteran-laden roster led by Cebu Leg MVP Bruce Dacia, Conference I MVP Marlon Basco, Stephen Padilla, Woodraw Enriquez and Abby Santos, rising stars Ian Saladaga, Mark Ababon and Jan Malinao, Ariel Mepana and Rino Berame and former Meteor Frank Nailon.



Landmaster of Joe Soberano and Coach Jun Tan made their Liga debut two weeks ago with a Third Place finish in the Taguig City Leg and are loaded with former members of the Ninos franchise – Danny Aying, Jercules Tangkay, Ronald Bucao, Jett Latonio, Enrico Llanto and Gerry Cavan. The frontline features Joel Solis, Francis Mercado, Mannie Gabas and Jayson Tiongson. Completing the team are John Paul Alcaraz and Jerome Cenita, who both emerged as reliable scorers during the Taguig Leg.



The Warriors and Landmaster are bunched at Fifth and Sixth Place with four points each. This leg will be crucial as it will be their only meeting. The Toyota-Bacolod Turbos are at solo Seventh Place with three points while the still winless Quezon Red Oilers and Zamboanga Uno Latinos share the cellar with only a point each.



Gingoog City will also host tomorrow’s games. The action moves to the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro City for Friday’s fixtures and Saturday’s leg championship game.



Selected games from the MisOr Leg will be shown over Solar Sports next week from Wednesday to Saturday. Also, Liga Pilipinas Classics airs daily over Viva Prime Channel. Additional information may be accessed at www.ligapilipinas.net.