CEBU, Philippines - M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños team owner Michel J. Lhuillier entertains with gusto the idea of his decorated ballclub’s joining the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as guest team next season.
After their fairytale run in the Liga Pilipinas Conference 3 where the Niños carved history by clinching the national championship undefeated, Lhuillier said he got an invite from PBA executives to join pro league and that he is seriously considering it especially if it is within the bounds of their financial resources.
In light of this, Lhuillier instructed his trusted hardcourt lieutenant Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba to conduct a thorough study to determine the benefits associated with the undertaking and find out if such venture would yield a desirable result to their organization.
“I think we’re running out of opponents. I told Yayoy (Alcoseba) to study how much budget we need to play in the PBA as guest team next year. If it will fit in our advertising budget, why not?” said Lhuillier during their victory/Christmas party the other night at Yayoy’s Grill and Resto Bar.
Although he viewed it as a challenge, Alcoseba said they will carefully weigh things first because
linking up with the PBA entails a lot of crucial factors, chief of which is the financial aspect.
“That will be a challenge for us pero kinahanglan pa gyud natong tan-awon ang figures kay mura’g dako gyud ni’g gasto,” matod ni Alcoseba.
Lhuillier, on the other hand, relishes with pride the Cebu Niños’ regaining their throne in grand fashion.
The Niños were so dominant that they became the first team in the two-year-old Liga Pilipinas to finish a conference with a perfect record. They swept all their 21 games capped by a 35-point rout of the MisOr Meteors to galvanized their stature as the country’s best commercial squad.
“They lost last year, it’s a lesson for them. We really prepared this year. The idea of winning 21 straight is historic. I’m very pleased of what happened because we’re carrying the name of Cebu ,” said an obviously ecstatic Lhuillier.
Lhuillier, Alcoseba and the rest of the team were joined in their celebration by Cebu Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Vice Mayor Mike Rama.
Osmeña lavished the Niños with praise and kind words for their momentous feat that is a symbol of pride for the Cebuanos.
“A lot of good players started here in Cebu because there are a lot of basketball courts in our barangays. This is the participation of our city government, we introduce basketball to the kids and when they grow up, we let the private sector like Michel Lhuillier to give them opportunities,” said Osmeña, who is vying for congressional post in Cebu City South District come the May 2010 polls. (FREEMAN NEWS)