STARmen aim for semis berth vs Secret Spices

MANILA, Philippines - STAR Group of Publications seeks an outright semis berth as it takes on Secret Spices in the MBL Corporate Cup basketball championship at the Aquinas gym in San Juan at 6:30 tonight.

Handled by coach Alfred Bartolome and manager Mike Maneze, the Starmen gun for their fifth straight win since dropping their opening-day assignment to Parola Maritime in the eight-team tournament sponsored by Cebuana Lhuillier, Ironcon Builders, Dickies Underwear, PRC Couriers and WG Diners.

Star is currently in joint lead with Parola with 4-1 win-loss slates. 

After bowing to Parola, 80-84, Star Group swept its next four matches against Makati Med (107-72), Gerry’s Grill (70-67), Manila-Hobe (75-63) and 100Plus Isotonic Sports Drink (73-62).

Former UE mainstay Chris Corbin, Jhong Bondoc, Gil Roque, Dennis Rodriguez, Gio Coquilla, and Randel Reducto will banner Star Group’s campaign.

But Secret Spices of coach Pablo Lucas and manager Alex Wang remains a threat to Star’s semis bid.

The Wang’s Ballclub-supported Secret Spices dropped its first three matches to 100plus (86-94), Gerry’s Grill (86-90) and Parola ( 91-93) before winning over Makati Medical Center ( 86-67) and Manila-Hobe ( 87-85) for a 2-3 record.

Leading Secret Spices’ charge are Raymond Maconocido, Mar Reyes, MJ Magbanua, Dudoy Ignacio, Nhoel Baltazar, Macky Villarta, Doods Litonjua and import Joshua Manthe.

Tournament director Albert Andaya said the top two teams after the elimination round will advance to the semis outright, while the next four teams will dispute the remaining two semis berths in a pair of knockout matches.

The No. 1 team in the elim will then meet the winner of the game between the No. 4 and No. 5 teams, while the No. 2 squad will battle the victor of the match between the No. 3 and No. 6 teams in another knockout games.

The top two teams after the semis will dispute the title in a winner-take-all encounter.

Commissioner is Loreto “Ato” Tolentino.