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Wednesday, January 19, 2005
NBC pre-season begins today; Tribu 5 to play
THE Panasonic National Basketball Conference (NBC) pre-season tournament will start today with national champion Skygo-backed Tribu Sugbu going up against Foward Taguig at the Cebu Coliseum.
It will be an early grudge game for the Tribesmen, which scampered for replacements after the entire team left in the off-season, against runner-up Sulpicio Lines-Forward Taguig in the main game.
Guest squad and Cebu Basketball Federation grand-slam titlist General Feeds will play against Spring Cooking Oil-backed Laguna Spring.
With the core of the inaugural champion team playing for Granny Goose in the PBL, Tribu Sugbu of Lito Gillamac Jr. is expected to have a rough sailing against the intact team of Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga in this tournament sponsored by Sulpicio Lines, Nature Spring, Molten and JY Square Mall.
From scratch
Coach Al Solis will start from the scratch with only high-leaping center Marvin Mercado the lone remnant of the championship team. Solis will have to rely on ex-pro Lowell Briones, Apple Tuadles, son of former PBA cager Arnie Tuadles, and the pair of Boyet Guerrero and Melfred Sampilo, who played for Ozamis Cotta last season.
Taguig only lost the backcourt duo of many-time national team member Ricky Ricafuente and Ogie Gumatay, who now plays for Sta. Lucia Realty in the PBA, and forward Mico Roldan in the off-season.
Coach Danny Gavieres tapped Nat Cruz and Kim Gandarosa of the Adamson Falcons, big men Ariel de Castro and Steve Marucot from Batangas 29ers and Iloilo Warriors, respectively, to team up with the troika of old reliable Jimboy Robillos, Elbert Alberto and Leo Vilar.
Laguna, which lost to Taguig in the North division finals last season, will have a new coach in former PBA cager Vic “Rambo” Sanchez. The team of national pistol champion Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla and Laguna Gov. Teresita Lazaro wants nothing but to redeem itself from a lackluster finish last season despite a homecourt advantage in the division finals.
Expected to lead the Spring Cooking Oil-backed team are Rodel Manuel, Marlon Kalaw, Mar Reyes and new recruit Sonny Manucat. Manucat, who was the first NBC All-Star MVP and a mythical team member, played for the Batangas 29ers last season.
Gen. Feeds Masters is raring to make an impact on the tournament with former St. Benilde Blazers Mark Magsumbol and Unic Reyes teaming up with Cebu collegiate stars Ian Saladaga and Jayford Rodriguez. RCM
Mentored by former PBA hotshot Elmer Cabahug, the Feed Masters of businessman Albert Tan, also has former Tribu Sugbu playmaker Ronald Bucao shooter Dante Elim and veteran Alex Cainglet in the line-up.
The four teams will play in a single-round robin format with the top two teams squaring off for the championshi,p while the remaining teams battle for the third place. (RCM)
(January 19, 2005 issue)
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