FOLLOWING their back-to-back championship runs, the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu Fighting Maroons will continue to hone their skills in preparation for the upcoming 25th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) season.
On June 21 (Saturday), the Fighting Maroons, coached by Rommel Rasmo, will face the Ormoc City Selection in an exhibition match at the Ormoc City Astrodome. The game will start at 6:30 p.m.
The special match is expected to draw basketball fans from Ormoc and neighboring areas due to the presence of renowned former PBA star player Rey Evangelista.
Evangelista, known as one of the PBA’s defensive specialists, is a native of Ormoc City and currently serves as a city councilor.
Current NLEX Road Warriors star player Robert Bolick may also see action for the Ormoc Selection in this encounter.
However, this will depend on the result of their game on Wednesday.
“Bolick will decide on Wednesday. We’ll wait for the result of their (PBA) game,” said Juvinille Parmis, an Ormoc-based content creator who helped the local government unit (LGU) promote the event.
While no title at stake, both teams are expected to play with pride and intensity.
Aside from Evangelista, the Ormoc City Selection will also feature Adamson University standout Joshua Yerro, former CIT-U guard Jim Brent Taala, Kobe Palencia, and MPBL standout Christian Bolano.
Completing the Ormoc City Selection are Kurt Nathan Velasquez, James Jumao-as, Khuniel Delarama, Kurt Lee Laput, John Edce Rojas, John Reggie Dajab, and Shawn Tesocan.
UP Cebu is the newly-crowned national champion of the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association tournament held April 22-27 at the Camiguin Polytechnic State University.
The Fighting Maroons also emerged victorious in the Inter-UP PahuSayan Games at UP Diliman.
Leading the team is Cebuano Matt Flores. He will be joined by Kent Cabanlit, Jayboy Ocampo, Raul Gilbuena, Aron Kress, Joaquin Zaldivar, and Brandon Sainz.
Rounding out the lineup are Andrew Padill, Willy Castro, Rafraf Arradaza, Aj Delos Reyes, Harbi Cano, JZ Dizon, Marco Manaloto, and Wenraye Sarol.
The match is part of the activities leading up to Ormoc City’s annual fiesta celebration. / JBM