Tagaytay vs Pangasinan in NBC opener

TAGAYTAY City — The National Basketball Conference (NBC) opens its third season today with a doubleheader at the Tagaytay Sports Center here.

Host Batang Tagaytay of NBC executive vice president and Mayor Bambol Tolentino goes up against Pangasinan Hundred Islands at 3:30 p.m. after the 1 p.m. opener between Spring Cooking Oil-Parañaque of NBC president Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla and Vice Mayor Anjo Yllana and Bacchus/Harbour Centre-Manila of coach Lawrence Chongson and Mikee Romero.

Cavite Gov. Ireneo "Ayong" Maliksi will be guest speaker during the 3 o’clock opening ceremony of the tourney sponsored by Panasonic, Sulpicio Lines, Nature’s Spring, Firefly Electric, Spring Cooking Oil, Molten and Prime Channel.

"The opening rites will showcase the local talents of Tagaytay," said Mayor Tolentino. "We’re expecting our homecrowd to support us in our first game (in the league) since we’ll be up against a strong team in Pangasinan."

Mentored by veteran Jun da Jose, Pangasinan boasts league veterans like Efren Valdez, Melvin Fontanilla, Ryan Ico, Jason Tiongson, Randy Lopez, Melvin Mamaclay, Jovy Sese, Steve Marucot, James Zablan, Rey Paul Javier, Mike Dizon and Michael Gonzales and rookie Ryan Regalado.

But coach Ramir Bayot, a former MICAA and PBA player, is confident that Tagaytay will be able to give a good fight.