Cebuanos beef up 2 PBL teams

Two Cebuano ex-MBA stars — Stephen Padilla and Carlos Sayon — are hoping to make their mark with Cheese Balls-Shark and Montana Pawnshop respectively when the PBL Challenge Cup unfolds Nov. 4 at the Pasig Sports Complex.

The 5-foot-10 Padilla, a stalwart of Cebuana Lhuillier in the Cebu Basketball Federation, is tagged as "the second coming of Roger Yap" with his surefire three-point snipings and excellent court generalship.

Padilla’s team-up with ace pointguard Warren Ybanez, comebacking Topex Robinson and equally excellent three-point shooter Ismael Junio is something other teams will have to contend with, not to mention the Cheese Balls’ frontline power behind Rysal Castro, Irvin Sotto, Francis Sanz and Rheynaldo Mendoza.

Sayon will be a big help at the wings together with Gary David, Jenkins Mesina and Sunday Salvacion — thus making the Jewelers even deadlier this conference. With Billy Mamaril, Jon Dan Salvador, Reymond Dula and Jam Alfad at the frontline, the Montana is predicted to give top favorites Welcoat, John-O and Blu All Purpose a tough fight for the crown.