Liga V: The Long Wait Is Over!

The last time Liga played in Ilocos Sur in January, 2009 (photo courtesy of Rob Owen)

AFTER ALMOST a year and a half of being away from the basketball scene, Liga Pilipinas returns with its Fifth Conference slated to blast off on April 27, 2011 at the Santo Domingo People’s Center in Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur.

Seven teams are set to compete for regional basketball’s biggest prize.  The returning Ilocos Sur franchise, sporting a new moniker as the Tigers and parading a new head coach in former La Salle star Johnedel Cardel, will host the first of seven weekly mini-tournaments.

Defending champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos of Michel J. Lhuillier and Coach Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba will lead the Tigers’ visitors that include the MP Warriors of GenSan of Rep. Manny D. Pacquiao and Coach Arvin Bonleon and the Laguna Golden Lions of Gov. ER Ejercito and Coach Nomar Isla.

The other participating teams are Conference II champion Misamis Oriental Meteors of Gov. Oscar S. Moreno and Coach Agripino “Jun” Noel, Pampanga and Mandaue City.  “There will always be a place for regional basketball,” remarked Liga Pilipinas CEO Noli Eala.  “We are happy that a lot of local governments believe and share our vision for Liga Pilipinas.”

The same reliable format of each team hosting three others in a four-day tournament will still be used, with teams earning points along the way based on their performance – a point for each win during the first three days, 10 for winning the tournament, seven for second place, three for third place and a point for fourth place.  In addition, a team will earn three bonus points should they sweep all their three preliminary games.  When all teams have had the chance to host, the points will tallied with the top teams advancing to the playoff round.

A major ruling handed down for the coming conference is the enforcement of a strict age-limit of 30 years and below.  However, the organizers allowed the teams to have as much as four players beyond the age limit as a sort of transitory provision which will eventually lead to these players “retiring” by the next conference or two.

In light of the new ruling, the teams have been forced to tinker with their rosters in order to comply.  The Ninos appear to be the hardest hit as they have parted ways with Liga inaugural Most Valuable Player Marlon Basco, Mark Magsumbol, Ariel Capus, Eliud Poligrates and Hafer Mondragon.  In their place, the three-time champions signed up former GenSan center Angelus Raymundo, rookie Ferdinand Lusdoc of Bohol Tech, Fil-Am Nick Monaco and team returnees Jayford Rodriguez and Mark Abadia.

Coach Cardel hopes to make the most of his coaching debut by recruiting a lot of Liga veterans like former Ninos point guard Warren Ybanez and one-time Iloilo stalwarts Chito Jaime and Erwin Sta. Maria.  Manning the frontline will be former Taguig center Ariel de Castro and former Quezon Red Oiler Galen Cacha.

Meanwhile, Coach Isla has added veterans Gherome Ejercito and EJ Feihl to the Golden Lions’ line-up to backstop returnees Francis Mercado, Marlon Legaspi, Glenn Bolocon, Robert Sanz and Ricky Ricafuente.

The Warriors, rocked by the sudden death of Coach Fean “Choy” del Rosario due to leukemia earlier this year, will now be handled by former MBA guard Bonleon.  Alex Angeles and Alfie Grijaldo are the new faces for the team that has retained Christian Nicdao, Dondon Mendoza, Jonathan Parreno, Christopher Concepcion and Louie Medalla as its core players.

Liga Pilipinas Conference III ended with the Ninos completing a 21-game sweep en route to the title in November, 2009.  In 2010, Liga took a backseat and co-organized the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) with the now dormant Philippine Basketball League (PBL) which was also won by the Ninos.  The TOP has since been recognized as Liga’s fourth conference.

San Miguel Corporation will lead several companies in supporting the Philippines’ biggest community-based league.  Negotiations are underway for the games to be shown over free television.  The basketball revolution started in 2008 continues!