A NEW battleground for cage supremacy will finally be unveiled tonight as the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League gets going at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Organized by Sen. Manny Pacquiao, the league’s inaugural conference, known as the Anta Rajah Cup, has lured 10 teams from Metro Manila—Parañaque, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, Navotas and Quezon City—and key cities and provinces in Luzon—Bulacan, Bataan, Batangas City and Imus, Cavite—for the three-month long tournament patterned after the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association.
“I’m very humbled and excited at the same time to be working with Senator Pacquiao for this noble project of him to discover untapped talents across the country and give former pros another chance to prove their worth,” said MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.
Colorful opening rites, spiced up by several celebrity guests who will be invited by Pacquiao himself, will be held at 7 p.m. before the Parañaque Patriots and the Caloocan Supremos kick off the hostilities at 8 p.m.
A brand new car and 10 motorbikes will also be up for grabs for lucky fans who will watch the opener live at the Big Dome.
“This league will be a great help to young players, including those in the provinces, aiming to make it to the pro ranks. Aside from discovering diamonds in the rough, we are also out to help former pros who want to prove they still have enough gas left in the tank,” said Pacquiao, the league’s founder and prime mover.
The Patriots, under multi-titled tactician Aric Del Rosario, and the Supremos, handled by coach John Kallos, will try to make an immediate impact before an expected sellout Big Dome crowd.
Game Today
(Smart-Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. ñ Opening Ceremonies
8 p.m. ñ Caloocan vs ParaÒaque