Tribu Sugbu to join NBC pre-season tiff

The Sirlitz-Skygo Tribu Sugbu will join five of the six NBC pre-season games scheduled from December to February next year in different cities all over the country.

As part for its preparation, team coach Al Solis is calling for a daily practice of all its team members starting December 15 at the City Sports Club.

Those who are invited for the practice are reigning MVP Christian Nicdao who is moving from defending champion Ozamiz Cotta to Tribu Sugbu for the pre-season games, CESAFI MVP Mark Ababon, Alex Cainglet, Ronaldo Bucao, Bernie Ursal, Chris Ferraren, Rex Mangubat, Kim Calo, Tioy Almacin, Jaysar Esperat, Miguelito Ducay, Randy Sevilla, Rino Berami, Marvin Mercado and veteran Jercules Tangkay, who is still playing in the PBL for the Rain or Shine Elastoseal tournament.

The only pre-season game Tribu Sugbu will be skipping is in Vigan, Ilocos Sur from December 18-21 but they will join the other games, which will be hosted by Cebu and four cities in Mindanao.

Cebu will host one of the pre-season games on January 26-29 either in Bogo or in Minglanilla.

Team owner Lito S. Gillamac, Jr. said he is inviting the Gen. Santos team, which is managed by People's Champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao in order to draw crowd and the Iloilo Warriors.

Gen. Santos is one of the three expansion teams, which will be seeing action next year along with Pagadian and Ilocos Snipers.

The first pre-season games next year willl be hosted by the Valencia-Bukidnon Golden Harvest from January 7-10 then the tournament will move to Pagadian on January 12-15.

After a short break, the tournament will be hosted by Cebu during the post Sinulog activities.

Gen. Santos will host the games on February 9-12 and the last city to host is Iligan on February 16-19.

Gillamac, the first team owner from the South, who confirmed participation in the 2006 season by signing the memorandum of agreement with Tito Palma, is expecting Tribu Sugbu will sweep the five pre-season games with the present line-up composed of quick and young point guards and a bunch of tall players led by Nicdao and Berami.