Pampanga enlists only native sons

True-blue Kapampangans will make up the Pampanga team returning to the Metropolitan Basketball Association this year.

All the players, the coaching staff and the support staff have Kapampangan blood, according to team manager Allan Trinidad.

Thus far, 10 players have been signed up with a Fil-Am scheduled to arrive March 5 to bolster the roster of Pampanga, the MBA inaugural champion in 1998, for the MBA first conference starting on April.

Trinidad said already signed up were playing coach Ato Agustin (5-foot-11), Dave Bautista (6-4), Willy Mejia (6-6), Roland Pascual (6-4), Billy Bansil (6-4), Richie Melencio (6-1), Ariel Garcia (6-0), Eric Gascon (6-3), Rolof Liangco (6-2) and Egay Ignacio (6-5).

Planing in from San Francisco, California is 6-foot-5 Cris Guinto Jr., whose parents came from Masantol. The 24-year-old Guinto is reportedly a 230-pound bruiser, who used to play with pros Nic Belasco and Robert Duat.

"With this All-Kapampangan lineup, the crowd will surely be back," said Trinidad. "We want to bring back the spirit of the 1998 season."