3 PBA teams to showcase wares in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Before the season-opening match of the PBA Philippine Cup, Cebuano basketball fans will witness first a showdown between three PBA teams and an amateur squad billed as “Cebu City Invitational Cup” on November 7-9 at the Cebu Coliseum.

A fund-raising project of the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists (CFBJ) and its partner Enya Ideals and the city government of Cebu, the three-day tilt features Commissioner’s Cup champions Alaska Aces, GlobalPort Batang Pier and Barako Bull Energy Cola. They will go up against the Verginia Allones and Mario Bantillan-owned CM Farm of Tagum City under the tutelage of UV Lancers assistant coach Van Halen Parmis.

CM Farm will be reinforced by Cameroonians as well as former PBA stars and topnotch collegiate and commercial cagers.

Alaska, which is among the most popular teams in Cebu, is boosted by the addition of Cebuano hotshot Dondon Hontiveros on its gold.

Aside from their mainstays, the PBA clubs will also parade their rookie players whom they will pick from annual Rookie Drafton Novemeber 3 as Robinsons Ermita in Manila.

CFBJ president Elias Baquero is very enthusiastic on this project since its proceeds will go to federation whose members are composed of reporters beat organizations, photographers and cameramen in Cebu.

CFBJ has a continuing project of promoting healthy lifestyle among its members through the Newsmen Basketball Association of Cebu (NBAC), the upcoming volleyball tournament, giving financial aids to its members who will be hospitalized and providing livelihood projects to its members for added income.— EBV (FREEMAN)