FROM PBA legend Jojo Lastimosa, to Batang Gilas’ participation and the invasion of ex-pros, the Marikina City Basketball League (MCBL) has become a great hub for players looking for a sanctuary.
In the opener of the new MCBL season, Mr. Lastimosa, a future PBA Hall of Famer, one of the league’s 40 Greatest Players and member of Alaska’s grand slam team, made an auspicious coaching debut and steered his team, NLEX-SCTEX to a convincing 90-74 bashing of Hobe Bihon at the Marikina Sports Center.
Parading the farm team of the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA, Mr. Lastimosa turned to ex-pros Byron Villarias and Jeckster Apinan in putting away Hobe Bihon, which also relied on former PBA player Ronjay Buenafe.
Mr. Villarias, cousin of PBA aspirant Kiefer Ravena, knocked down 23 markers, including five triples. He conspired with import Ola Adeogun in a blistering 13-1 run in the fourth period that allowed NLEX-SCTEX to break away all the way to the convincing victory.
Mr. Adeogun, who led San Beda to multiple championships in the NCAA, came away with a double-double performance of 29 points and 12 rebounds while Mr. Apinan contributed 12.
Hobe also banked on its own set of PBA players led by Mr. Buenafe, who fired in 21 points while Eric dela Cuesta, cousin of Mr. Lastimosa, chipped in 16 markers for the Braulio Lim-mentored squad.
Mr. Buenafe kept Hobe in the thick of the fight as his three-point play shoved his team to within a basket, 65-63, but that was the last time the team could come closer as Messrs. Adeogun and Villarias joined forces.
Batang Gilas, bannered by 6-foot-11, 14-year-old player Kai Sotto, will see action in the coming days. — Rey Joble
