Montaña eyes ‘Araw’ cage title

MONTAÑA Pawnshop Davao and MP Pacman of General Santos will try to shove off stiff opposition to win the title as the Mayor Rody and Inday Sara 73rd Araw ng Dabaw Invitational Basketball Tournament unfolds at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Almendras Gym.

Veteran Michael Mañigo yesterday said Montaña Davao, where he is a mainstay, is all set to compete in the Araw cagefest.

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"We just came from a championship won in the Kaamulan Festival in Bukidnon. I think our team is in high spirits for the Araw tournament. Other teams may be tough but we are ready for game. We have been training as a team for over a month now," Mañigo, a former MBA player, said in a phone interview with Sun.Star Davao, Saturday.

Montaña also boasts of the services of former PBA players Donald Tadena and Lendy Dawal along with Charlie Braga, Randel Colina, Henry Fernandez, Frederick Canlas, Allan Quibod, Dado Ayson, Ronald Lamocha, Juneil Hawud, Miguel Solitaria, Tomy Collados and Ryan Abanes.

MP Pacman Gensan head coach Fiel del Rosario, however, downplayed his team's chances in the league.

He said, "We are just a newly-installed team and it is my first time to be a head coach. We are excited for this tournament. We are happy to be here to gain experience in preparation for our stint in the upcoming Liga ng Pilipinas."

Highly-touted M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala of Cebu City and Team Bida Laguna are also entered in the meet co-presented by Mayor Rodrigo and Vice Mayor Inday Sara Duterte in coordination with the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office.

Huge cash prizes await winners it the four-day free admission cagefest sanctioned by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) regional director Regino "Boy" Cua.