Basketball:MBL starts on April 8 at Lyceum Gym

MANILA, March 13 (PNA)--The Millennium Basketball League (MBL), one of the country’s longest-running commercial leagues, will open its 2010 season with another major tournament on April 8 at the Lyceum gym in Intramuros, Manila.

Two-time MBL champion Ocean Fresh-Lyceum and 2009 MBL Second Conference titlist Wang’s Ballclub head the list of teams expected to see action in the season-opening, two-month long tournament.

“This season-opening MBL tournament promises to be another major success just like the previous ones,” said MBL president Alex Wang. “We’re again inviting top commercial and collegiate teams to participate in our tournament.”

Among the teams which have been invited to see action are Zycare Pharma-University of Manila, Jose Rizal University , Forward Taguig, University of Santo Tomas-Dickies, Manuel Luis Quezon University, Imus Car Center-EARIST, Rizal Technological University, KABAKA, Lead PNP and PJS Law Firm.

Last year, Wang’s Ballclub ended more than four years of frustrations by beating Zycare Pharma-UM, 90-75, in their winner-take-all finals to capture the MBL Invitational Cup last December.

Former PBA standout Biboy Simon exploded for a game-high 30 points to lead the Mandaluyong-based team of coach Pablo Lucas to its first title since winning the 2005 MBL-Ping Lacson Cup.

Earlier, Lyceum-Showa bagged the First Conference title, beating UST-Dickies Underwear, 91-73, in the finals held last June.

Dondon Villamin, Chris Aqualaful, Eder Saldua, Allen Difonturum and Jerwin Gaco carried the fight for the Intramuros-based team of coach Bonnie Tan.

For details on the MBL, call Albert Andaya at cell 0919-4104354. (PNA)
LOR