MBA goes commercial with Lhuillier Games

The Metropolitan Basketball Association tests the crowd’s acceptance of its decision to give the teams their new faces by going commercial when the MBA-Cebuana Lhuillier Friendship Games unfolds beginning today at the New Cebu City Coliseum.

The teams will banner their commercial endorsers starting this fourth season of the MBA, which kicks off June 3 with a more compact lineup of eight teams. Half of the MBA’s roster will see action in the Lhuillier Friendship Cup, which will serve as the league’s pre-season tournament.

The Batangas-Manila merger, now known as the LBC Blades, takes on the Negros Slashers in the first game at 4 p.m. before San Juan, which will carry the Andok’s Knights colors, collide with the host team Cebuana Lhuillier at 6:30 p.m.

The four teams will then visit the Ayala Center for the fans’ day on April 28.

The first day losers will battle it out for third place on Sunday with the winners clashing for the Lhuillier crown in the event presented by Cebuana Lhuillier, Lysol and Globe Handiphone.

The first two matches will be telecast over PTV 4 on a delayed basis tomorrow while the battle for third and the championship game will be telecast live from 12 nn onwards Sunday.

The Blades will have members of the 1999 champion Manila Metrostars in their fold, including Alex Compton and Rommel Abducul.

Andok’s Knights will still have Cris Calaguio and Chito Victolero while support is expected from Omanzie Rodriguez and Philip Newton, among others.

Negros Slashers, meanwhile, will bank on regulars Jon Ferriols, Jon Cardel and Maui Huellar while the host Lhuillier Gems will rely on Matthew Mitchell, Stephen Padilla, Max Delantes and Peter Naron.

The league’s decision to limit the teams to eight opened MBA to commercial sponsorship. The league now offers a more enticing return for team investments while assuring fans of more exciting match-ups among teams from the north and south.

Businessman and sports patron Santi Araneta was recently named the MBA’s new president and chairman.

"There are still other innovations in the works, but the most basic are also the most important among our thrusts starting this year," said Ramon Tuason, business development director for the MBA. "We believe they will help us be more competitive and at least at par with the other leagues in the country."

Part of the league’s new look is the switch from its former main carrying television station Studio 23 to PTV 4, which will telecast all games in Metro Manila for a wider reach of the provinces.

MBA playdates were also moved to Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, which are in direct rivalry with the Philippine Basketball Association timeslots.

Tuason, however, explained the new dates are the only free days in their new station. Games, however, will still be held from 3 to 8 p.m. and the remaining teams will still strut the name of the province they come from, alongside their sponsors.