Stars vow MBA win; Eagles sport new image

SAN FERNANDO,Pampanga -- The Pampanga Stars have promised to win the national title in the coming Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) season as their wedding gift to Presidential son and Pampanga Vice Gov. Mikey Arroyo.

The Pampanga Stars made the vow as they were formally introduced to the local media at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan hall of the provincial capitol recently, with l992 Philippine Basketball Association’s most valuable player Renato "Ato" Agustin as head coach.

Agustin led the team, then called the Pampanga Dragons, to victory in the l998 MBA national championships.

Agustin said the new team is composed of eight of the former Pampanga Dragons, including Dave Bautista (forward), Ariel Garcia (guard), Willie Mejia (center), Eric Gascon (forward), Billy Bansil (forward), Edgar Ignacio (center) and Rolof Liangco (forward).

"All of them were members of the Pampanga Dragons when it won the l998 MBA national championship," said Agustin.

Agustin said the Pampanga Stars have new members recruited from various parts of Pampanga.

"They’re the best of the best we could recruit," he said of his rookies that include Filipino-American Chris Guinto (center), whose paternal roots are from Macabebe, Pampanga, Richard Melencio (guard), Roland Pascual (forward), Jeffrey Cocjin (guard), and Vincent John Santos (guard).

"They are all genuine Capampangans," said David.

The new team was also introduced to Gov. Lito Lapid and Arroyo who vowed to give their full support to the team.

Except for the 5-10 Santos, the other team members tower over six feet tall, with Amerasian Guinto being the tallest at 6-6.

The MBA series kicks off in April but venue is still uncertain after the MBA declared the flooring of the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex here unfit for the games.

But Arroyo said the upgrading of the flooring, which was found to be too slippery, has been started using some P5 million from the provincial coffers.

Agustin is confident that his team has what it takes to match up with reigning national champion LBC Batangas.

The Pampanga squad was disbanded in 2000 following controversies over the Mimosa Leisure Estate at Clark Field, owned by former team manager Jose Antonio Gonzalez.

Meanwhile, the TPG Davao Eagles will be known as the Professional Davao Eagles starting this year.

Vito Orcullo, vice president for Mindanao of the sponsoring The Professional Group (TPG), said the change in name is in conformity with the dynamic and fighting image they are trying to project for the Eagles this year.

Battered underneath the basket last year, the Eagles opted to go taller and bigger in order to keep up with the other MBA teams, particularly those in the Southern Conference.

Aside from 6-foot-6 Billy Mamaril, new coach Bong Go had enlisted the services of 6-5 Jan Montalbo, formerly of Cebu; 6-4 1/2 John Dan Salvador of College of St. Benilde; 6-4 Cid White, formerly of Negros; 6-4 Brandon Sison, and 6-3 Glenn Peter Yap.

Orcullo said White is arriving today or tomorrow to sign up while Alaska has reportedly agreed to release Yap.

Returning to the Eagles fold are 5-10 Michael Manigo, 6-0 Bong Marata, 6-0 Genesis Sasuman, 6-4 1/2 Rolly Menor, 6-5 Erian Daja, 6-2 Dennis Concha and 6-0 Peter June Simon, the 2001 Discovery of the Year.

Tapped to help Go in the Eagles bench are Ronel Leuterio, Go’s former assistant at College of St. Benilde and homegrown coach Ben Santos.