Top grade regional hoop action returns with the staging of the 2007 Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Hotel Fortuna Cup on September 3 to 6 at the Cebu Coliseum.
A total of four teams will strut their wares in the four-day cagefest held as a runup to the 2007 MVBA Second Conference and organized by long-time sports patron and BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Cebu Province director Lorenzo “Chao” C. Sy.
These are the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City Jewelers of Michel J. Lhuillier and coach Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba, Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue of Mayor Jonas Cortes and Joe Soberano, Arthro Kontra Arthritis of Jonathan “Atan” L. Guardo and coach Al Solis, and Holcim Pryce Pharma MisOr of league chairman Gov. Oscar Moreno and coach Bong Abad.
All games will be played at the Cebu Coliseum except on September 5, which will be staged at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
The tournament follows a single round robin format, with the top two teams clashing for the championship. The lower ranked squads will fight for the third place honors.
Meanwhile, the season-ending MVBA Second Conference will fire off on September 16 with a double-header at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center.
Host Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue take the floor against the comebacking MP Warriors-GenSan of boxing idol Manny Pacquiao and new coach Perry Atilano in the main contest at 6:30 pm. Both teams are coming off a one-conference leave of absence and are raring to continue their winning ways.
Montana Pawnshop-Davao of Armando Quibod and new coach Nick Serafica, on the other hand, battles 2007 First Conference runner-up Arthro Kontra Arthritis in the 4:30 pm conference opener. Montana, an MVBA pioneer member, is also making a return to the league sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP).
Completing the community-based league’s cast are First Conference champion Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr, M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City, West Negros College-Bacolod of Anthony Agustin, Phoenix Fuels-Duterte Agilas of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Valencia Golden Harvest of Mayor Leandro Catarata.