MVBA pre-season games slated Jan. 26 in CDO

The 2007 edition of the ML Kwarta Padala Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) will hold pre-season games starting off with the Mindanao Division swing on January 26 at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro City.

Hosted by MVBA chairman and Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno, a total of six teams will see action in the six-day cagefest billed as "MVBA Governor's Cup."

Spearheading the cast of entries is M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu, the champion of the inaugural two-conference MVBA season last year.

The M. Lhuillier Jewelers of Michel J. Lhuillier and head coach Raul "Yayoy" D. Alcoseba will have their hands full against host Holcim Pryce Pharma MisOr, MP Warriors-GenSan of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, Mantawi-Cebu Landmaster of Joe Soberano, and Lanao del Norte Royals of Gov. Imelda Dimaporo.

The tournament follows a single round robin format with the top two teams slugging it out for the championship in a winner-take-all affair.

After the Mindanao hostilities, action shifts to Visayas with another six-day pre-season showdown from February 18 to 23 at the Cebu Coliseum.

The pre-season games are being held as a runup to the 2007 MVBA season which formally opens in the first week of March.

Meanwhile, Alcoseba announced that M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Grand Reunion, which is being hatched in commemoration of the ballclub's 20th anniversary, has been reset to a later date.

The memorable event was originally scheduled on January 19, but Alcoseba was forced to postpone it to February 24 due to the 12th ASEAN Summit and the Sinulog festivities.

For more details about the M. Lhuillier Grand Reunion, one may call the office of Councilor Alcoseba at (032) 255-8873 or 0917-3296264 and look for Erwin or e-mail at [email protected].