Pacquiao Warriors vs. Cebu Landmaster RDAK-Mandaue on Tuesday

POINTS STANDINGS (Win-Loss) Cebu Landmasters RDAK-Mandaue (7-1) 27 points M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos (7-5) 24 Misamis Oriental Meteors (6-6) 18 Laguna Golden Lions (5-7) 17 Ilocos Sur CS Tigers (4-8) 11 MP Warriors of GenSan (3-5) 7      GENERAL SANTOS City – Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s MP Warriors of GenSan will play their first official games at the spanking new GMP Sports Complex with the opening of the General Santos City Leg of the SMC Liga PilipinasConference V on Tuesday.      The Warriors under Coach Arvin Bonleon will be tested by no less than Cebu Landmaster RDAK-Mandaue, which recently became the first team to bag a second weekly championship this conference, as well as the Laguna Golden Lions and Ilocos Sur CS Tigers.      While Mandaue is currently lording it over the six-team field, focus will be on the battle between the Warriors, Lions and Tigers as the three teams dispute the last two spots in next month’s Super Leg that will determine the next Liga Pilipinas National Champion.  Only five teams of the six teams will advance to the Super Leg that is supported by San Miguel, Molten, Summit Natural Drinking Water and Accel.      The Warriors will again draw firepower from forward Alfie Grijaldo and guard Louie Medalla, Liga’s third and fourth best scorers with 14.6 and 14.1 respectively.  It is no surprise that the Warriors are also Liga’s top scoring team at 81.3 per game.      On the other hand, Mandaue is winning thanks to its stingy defense engineered by Coach Jun Tan, a Liga-best 61.1.  Two-time weekly Most Valuable Player Mark Magsumbol will again lead the team of Joe Soberano and Rick King, along with backcourt mate Axel Doruelo and center Marlon Basco.      This being their fourth and final weekly assignments, the Golden Lions of Gov. ER Ejercito and the CS Tigers of Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson are expected to go all out and fortify their grip on a Super Leg berth and create distance between them and the Warriors.      The Golden Lions have won five of their last eight games since basketball legend Philip Cezar took over the coaching reins.  Coach Cezar brought in an improved defense, coupled by the rise in scoring from Glenn Bolocon (15.6 PPG) and Bryan Faundo (11.4 PPG).      Finally, the CS Tigers are looking for more help for team leader Chito Jaime, their only twin-digit scorer at 13.3.  Coach Johnedel Cardel has to extract more consistency from the likes of Ramsey Williams, Jorel Canizares and Warren Ybanez.  After winning their first two games of the conference, the slumping CS Tigers has since won only twice in its next ten outings.       In three previous legs held at the cavernous General Santos City Coliseum in Barangay Lagao, the Warriors could only account for a pair of Third Place trophies in Conference II and the Tournament of the Philippines.  Playing at the new venue could just be the boost they need.  GMP is owned and operated by Rep. Pacquiao and is located in Barangay Tambler near the airport.      Liga Pilipinas concludes its Tour Phase next week in Cagayan de Oro City with the Misamis Oriental Meteors hosting Mandaue, the Warriors and defending National Champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos in all-Southern showdown.PR