MPBL goes to Dubai on Sept. 27

Inaugural staging champion Batangas City and Datu Cup titlist San Juan collide in the MPBL’s first-ever overseas game in Dubai on Sept. 27.

League commissioner Kenneth Duremdes confirmed the news, saying MPBL officials will fly to Dubai right after the season opener of the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league on June 12.

The organizers decided to pick San Juan, which ruled the recent Datu Cup in a thrilling finale win over Davao Occidental, and Batangas City, to arrange the MPBL’s version of “Battle of the Champions” in front of the Pinoy audience living in the most populated place in the United Arab Emirates.

Live streaming of the games will be available both for the audience in Dubai and the Philippines, but the game on television will likely be recorded and shown on a later date.

After Dubai, the MPBL will stage another overseas game in Oman where a huge number of Filipinos are also working. 

Commissioner Duremdes said the league also approved the entry of two expansion teams joining the country’s top regional basketball event. Two more teams, which changed management also got a thumbs-up from league founder and chief executive officer Senator Manny Pacquiao.

The Bicol Volcanoes, to be coached by Monel Kallos and owned by Gil Orense and the Mindoro Tamaraws, owned by Justin Tan, were approved as the 27th and 28th teams, respectively.

Pasig also welcomed the return of an old figure in local basketball circuit – the Sta. Lucia Realtors, who will now assume ownership of its MPBL franchise. 

Representing the team in behalf of owner Exequiel Robles was Buddy Encarnado, a long-time manager and 2-time PBA Executive of the Year awardee.

Encarnado is happy to be back after the Realtors left the PBA in 2010 when the franchise was acquired by Meralco.  He also announced that the team will be known as the Sta. Lucia Land Inc.-Pasig Realtors.

A change in Mandaluyong management was also granted when former PBA player, Banjo Calpito took over the old franchise previously owned by Christian Singson for expansion squad Nueva Ecija.