Friday, June 06, 2008 Pichay ‘elected’ as BAP-SBP president
THE M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños has added five more deadly weapons to help them in their quest to win the first-ever Liga Pilipinas title.
Niños coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba tapped the services of former University of the Visayas Green Lancers and centers Rino Berami and Ariel Mepaña for additional power in the middle while at the wing is the former UV Baby Lancer Reed Friar Juntilla.
Completing the new cast of players for the Cebu squad are former University of San Jose-Recoletos Earn Saguindel, who finished his collegiate playing years with the University of the East Warriors in the UAAP and former Lancer guard Mark Ababon.
The Niños started the Liga pre-season tournament with only 10 players in the lineup before annexing title with only nine players left after its starting guard Woodrow Enriquez was injured during the semifinal round.
Eight weeks
Enriquez will be out for at least eight weeks and the addition of Ababon and Saguindel will surely ease up the load of shooter Stephen Padilla and Gerry Cavan, who both acted as point guard during the pre-season tournament.
The 6-foot-7 Berami is fresh from his stint with the Toyota Otis in the PBL along with Saguindel and Juntilla who both played for Hapee Toothpaste.
Mepaña had his time playing for the M. Lhuillier Jewelers before he was dropped from the team early this year, while Ababon last saw action with the Misamis Oriental in the MVBA.
The Cebuanos will be tested when they play for their first pocket tournament, visiting Ilocos Sur to compete against the host team Ilocos Bravehearts, Tagaytay-Cavite Heroes and Laguna Stallions from June 11 to 15.
While in Cagayan de Oro City the MisOr Meteors will host the Quezon Red Oilers, Zamboanga Amores and Taguig Batang Global. (RCM)
