MBA eyes return of Cagayan de Oro

The Metropolitan Basketball Association is mulling the possible return of Cagayan de Oro, making it the eighth and final member ballclub in the ideal eight-team cast for its fifth season set to unfold April 8.

"There are strong indications that the MBA might accept Cagayan de Oro back as its eighth and last team to play in the league’s fifth season," a source, who requested anonymity, told The STAR.

Ramon Tuason, the league’s director for business and marketing, did not give details as to Cagayan de Oro’s possible re-entry but hinted they are strongly studying the matter.

Other teams currently being considered by the MBA are Laoag, Makati, Baguio, Taguig and Bulacan.

The same source said the Amigos, who filed a leave of absence in the 2001 season, are strongly being considered since the MBA has only three ballclubs coming from the Southern Conference.

Four teams have already occupied the Northern Conference. These are reigning champion LBC Batangas, Olongapo, Pampanga and Pangasinan. The three squads from the South are Negros, Cebuana Lhuillier and TPG Davao.

As this developed, the Olongapo Volunteers, who have been accepted as the MBA’s sixth member, are reportedly eyeing Junel Baculi as coach this season.

Baculi, who steered the Welcoat Paint Masters to four PBL titles in their last five conferences, told The STAR that the MBA did approach and offer him the coaching job in Olongapo.

"The MBA has approached me last Friday and we talked about the possibility of coaching the Olongapo Volunteers," said Baculi. "But there is no finality yet." — Joey Villar