WITH former Gilas guard Gio Jalalon reportedly teaming up with explosive scorer Jojo Tangkay and defensive specialist Mark “The Assassin” Yee, the KSB Glass Iligan will surely give rival teams a run for the money in the cash-rich Tagoloan Open Invitational basketball tournament which opened on Tuesday night, December 17, at the Tagoloan Dome of Misamis Oriental.

“Yes, kauban namo si Gio ug Mark Yee sa Iligan team kay nakatagkatag pud ‘mi nga mga players sa Team CDO (Both Gio and Yee are with us in Iligan team. I and the rest of the players from Team CDO were spread out to other teams in Tagoloan Open),” Cagayan de Oro ace forward Jun Daanoy told SunStar Cagayan de Oro.

Last night, Daanoy and the KSB Glass Iligan debuted against Team Unity of ex-pros Carlos Sayon and Gilbert Omolon after the preliminary match between the youth-laden Cebu Niños and Parekoy Las Piñas-Manila skippered by Ernesto Billones.

On Wednesday, December 18, Cebu Niños will clash with Team Unity at 7 p.m. while KSB Glass Iligan will tangle with Cebu’s Southwestern Phinma in the nightcap at 8.30 p.m.

The Southwestern Cobras, the defending Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) champions, has Senegalese import Lamine Thiam and the dependable foursome of Sir Shaquille Imperial, Dyl Roncal, Red Cachuela and William Polican in their roster.

“There’s no odds-on favorites among the contending teams because we see to it that the playing field is well-balanced. The Mayor (Gomer “Enan” Sabio) wants equal chances for all teams and for the crowd to enjoy full-blast entertainment,” said Tagoloan sports-in-charge Van Halen Parmis.

Parmis also reminds the spectators especially those coming from nearby towns to observe strict compliance with regards to security measures since the games are free for the viewing public.

Backpacks and wearing of sunglasses and caps inside the venue’s premises will not be allowed.

The five-day hoopfest will last until December 21 with the champion team going home P150,000-richer.

Second, third, and fourth placers will receive P100,000, P75,000 and P50,000 each, respectively, with the team at fifth place still getting P30,000 consolation prize.