Cowboys get baptism of fire

The Ilagan City gets a feel of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) competition when it tackles Sarangani in the opening salvo of the Seventh Season on 8 March at The Capital Arena in Ilagan City.

The Cowboys will battle the Marlins in the 8 p.m. main game following the clash between Biñan Tatak Gel and retooled Abra at 6 p.m. of this tournament put up by former Senator Manny Pacquiao.

The Cowboys joined the country’s premier regional tournament last month and were bracketed in the tough North Division that also includes back-to-back reigning champion Pampanga and former titlists San Juan (2019) and Nueva Ecija (2022).

Cowboys coach Louie Gonzalez assembled a competitive team, headed by crack point guard Philip Manalang and homegrown icon Val Acuna, and are raring to make the playoffs in their maiden stint.

Other Cowboys expected to deliver before the local crowd are JR Olegario, Joshua Gallano and Macoy Marcos.

The Marlins should be tough to crack, however with Kyt Jimenez, owner of the league’s only quadruple-double, veteran big man Arvie Bringas, slam dunk king Joe Gomez De Liano and the mercurial Orin Catacutan in tow.

Bent on chasing the title this year, the Weavers recruited the talented Encho Serrano, Filipino-Canadian Kascius Small-Martin, and varsity stars Dave Ildefonso, CJ Austria, Jack Cruz-Dumont and Joshua David.

They will play alongside proven acquisitions Yousef Taha, Leon Najorda, John Uduba, Marwin Taywan and Jayson Apolonio, and returnees Mark Yee, Paul Desiderio and Alfred Batino.

Biñan has yet to submit its official roster, but gunners Carlo Lastimosa, Kenny Rocacurva Pamboy Raymundo, Jonathan Grey, Jaymar Gimpayan are expected to return with veterans Marc Pingris, Mac Cardona and KG Cañaleta.

The MPBL begins its three-game schedule on 10 March at the Robert Estrella Sr. Memorial Gymnasium in Rosales, Pangasinan, where Imus will battle Mindoro at 4 p.m., Nueva Ecija will confront Pasay City at 6 p.m., and Bataan will collide with Pangasinan at 8 p.m.