CFBJ Cup gets underway today at Coliseum

CEBU, Philippines -  Barring any hitches specifically the threat posed by super typhoon ‘Yolanda', the first ever sporting venture of the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists billed as the 'Mayor’s Cup-CFBJ Cup will push through as scheduled today featuring two PBA teams at the Cebu Coliseum.

“We know that there is an incoming typhoon so the schedule of the games are subject to change but we hope that we can go through with the original schedule,” said CFBJ president Elias Baquero during a press conference yesterday at the GV Tower Hotel.

A fund-raising project of the CFBJ in association with Enya Ideals and the city government of Cebu, the three-day tilt has the Alaska Aces, GlobalPort Batang Pier and Barako Bull Energy Cola going up against the CM Farm, a Tagum City-based ballclub that is a collection of former PBA cagers and commercial standouts.

Under the tutelage of UV Green Lancers assistant coach Van Halen Parmis, CM Farm will be beefed up two Cameroonian imports in Ahmed Salihou of the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, and Douglas N’jaapa from the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors.

They will play alongside erstwhile PBA mainstays Ardy Larong, JR Guerilla, Ferdinand Lusdoc, Glenn Bolocon, and Dino Daa and ex-UC Webmaster Bryan Heruela.

In the opener at 5 pm,  CM Farm will take on the reigning CESAF champions UV Lancers, while the Barako Bull will clash with GlobalPort Batang Pier in the main match at 7pm.

UV is the last minute replacement of the Alaska Aces, who backed out due to the inclement weather.

The event serves as a final tune-up of the three PBA squads for the upcoming 39th PBA season that will have its simulaneous opening on November 17.

Even though they're the underdog, Parmis vowed that CM Farm will give the visiting pros a good run for their money.

“They will surely be tested because we will give them hard-fought games every night,” said Parmis.

“Seryoso kami sa larong ito at tatalunin namin yung tatlong team,” butted in former PBA center Mark Andaya. “Hindi kami patatalo sa kanila.”

Alaska, for its part, will bank on Cebuano hotshot Dondon Hontiveros, reigning PBA ‘Rookie of the Year’ Calvin Abueva, Cyrus Baguio,  JV Casio, Gabby Espinas, Sonny Thoss and Tony de La Cruz together with Ryan Buenafe, their eight pick in the recent PBA draft.

Tickets are priced at P30 for general admission, P200 for the upperbox, P300 for the lowerbox, P400 for stage seats and P500 for ringside.  (FREEMAN)