Alvarez to play in Cebu

Unable to display his high-flying acts in the PBA, FedEx forward Paul Alvarez will strut his stuff in the Cebu Basketball League (CBL) hoop extravaganza dubbed "The Crunchtime" which will start today at the Cebu Coliseum.

Alvarez, nicknamed Mr. Excitement for his thrilling brand of play, is currently on leave from his PBA team. He is looking forward to a "competitive practice" games as playing coach for Forex Forwarders, one of the four visiting squads that will do battle against some of the best teams in Cebu and Mindanao.

Aside from Alvarez, Forex also has in its lineup former professional campaigners Pido Jarencio, Johnnedel Cardel, Peter Naron, Gilbert Castillo and Andy de Guzman.

Carrying the local flag are M. Lhuillier Jewelers and ML Kuarta Padala, two of the most dominant teams in the Visayas.

The Jewelers topped this year’s Southeast Asian Games Basketball Championship while Kuarta Padala was declared co-champion with Hartmann Seigle in the recent fourth Danny Espiritu Cup.

Leading Kuarta Padala are former MBA superstar Bruce Dacia and Espiritu Cup MVP Hercules Tangkay.

"The Cebuano fans will again be treated to high-caliber basketball action. Some of the top players displaced by the MBA’s closure are raring to play again in a competitive arena," said CBL president Jonathan Guardo.

Other participating teams in this weeklong tourney, which is supported by Osaka Iridology, Guardo Sports Promotion, M. Lhuillier Pawnshop, Guardosoft Printing and the Basketball Association of the Philippines, are the North Cotabato Braves, Taguig City and Montana Pawnshop.