3 PBA teams to see action

CEBU, Philippines - Three teams from the Philippine Basketball Association will be coming over to the Queen City of the South to showcase their wares in a four-day invitational games.

PBA Governors’ Cup runner-up Meralco Bolts, NLEX Road Warriors and either the STAR Hotshots or the Phoenix Fuel Masters are all set for action in the 1st Recoletos Invitational Cup set on November 9-12 at the Recoletos Coliseum of the University of San Jose-Recoletos Basak Campus.

 USJ-R Basketball coach Jun Noel said the visiting pros will go up against the Cebu Landmasters that will be powered by collegiate stars from the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).

Suiting up for the Cebu Landmasters are league MVP Rey Suerte, Josue Segumpan and 6-foot-6 Liberian Bassieru Sackor of reigning CESAFI champions University of the Visayas Green Lancers, All-Star MVP Mark Jayven Tallo, Bernie Bregondo, Giovannie Luz and Mark Racho of Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras and RJ Dinolan, Ricky Peromingan, Nelvin Navarra, Miguel Gastador, Haybie Mantilla and 6-foot-8 Nigerian Kingsley Sega of the USJ-R Jaguars.

They will play in a single round robin format, with the top two teams slugging it out for the championship in a winner-take-all affair.

This is the second major event of USJ-R Basketball this year. Last July, they brought the University of Santo Tomas Tigers of the Manila-based University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) here for the 1st Recoletos de Cebu Cup Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament.

  "We are initiating this event because in our own little way, through basketball, we want to contribute something to the charity works of the Order of the Austinian Recollect.  We hope to raise funds for their cause and at the same time treat the Cebuanos with a highly entertaining hardcourt action," said Noel. (FREEMAN)