Regent Cheese Ball-Shark tackles Skygo Riders in the opener at 3 p.m. while John-O clashes with Hapee Toothpaste-Cebu in the 5 p.m. main encounter.
PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad and PBL chairman Dioceldo Sy will welcome Cebu Basketball League officials in a short ceremony before the start of the game.
Regent-Shark may be slightly favored with the core of Warren Ybanez, Ismael Junio, Rysal Castro, Gerald Ortega and Irvin Sotto beefed up by three-point shooters Mark Magsumbol and Nani Epondulan, power forward Nelbert Omolon and former Blu defense man Francis Sanz.
But former MBA sensation Bruce Dacia and Jercules Tangkay could emerge a big headache for coach Jing Ruiz’ wards, not to mention the support of Cebu collegiate standouts Leif Villarin, Alano Caputolan and Jessie Lumantas for the Skygo Riders which copped Cebu Basketball Federation’s Summer League crown and Gillamac Cup.
"Medyo mahihirapan siguro kami since we haven’t scouted the Cebu teams. Malamang, pakiramdaman muna sa umpisa, at doon na lang kami gagawa ng adjustment sa depensa," said Ruiz.
John-O, beefed up by a bunch of scoring machines led by Ricky Calimag, Leo Bat-og, Clarence Cole, and Celino Cruz, may also face rough sail against Hapee Toothpaste-Cebu, which is aiming high for a Luzon title after clinching the CBF Carmen Cup in Cebu and the Cagayan de Oro Invitational crown in Mindanao.
The Cebuano Teeth Sparklers will parade MBA stars Reynell Hugnatan, Peter Jun Simon and Patrick Benedicto, and PBL-honed mainstays Reuben de la Rosa, Maui Huelar, Joel Bona, Leody Garcia, Odelon Oga and Rommel David.
Head coach Jun Noel likewise tapped Hapee-PBL’s Rodel Mallari, Joseph Salangsang, Mark Saquilayan, Ryan Dy and Francis Mercado to beef up the team.
Completing the line-up are Jerrick Arano and Jigger Saniel.
"They were in Cagayan de Oro when we had tune-up games against CBF teams. We still have to scout their strength, but from the looks of it, mas lalo pang lumakas dahil me kasama pang players from Hapee-PBL," said John-O team manager Carlo Sario.
"This will be an interesting match. Malakas din ang line-up nila so we’re not taking chances against them. We’ll see what adjustments we’ll do in the course of the game and hopefully, we’ll hurdle this first match," said John-O coach Manny Dandan.