Arthro eyes repeat vs. Landmaster

MANDAUE CITY – Will he or will he not?  Basketball fans are expected to come in droves tonight at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex to witness what could be the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) debut of 6-foot-11 Gregory Fuentes Slaughter. 

Game today

Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex

5:30 pm Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue

vs. Arthro Kontra Arthritis

Slaughter is listed on the roster of visiting Arthro Kontra Arthritis as they take on league leader and host Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue.

However, Elmer “Boy” Cabahug, head coach of Slaughter’s mother team University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, did not provide any hint that the Fil-Am giant will suit up for Arthro.

“He will not play because personally I feel he’s not yet ready for such kind of league. More importantly, the Gullases have the authority to decide when and where Slaughter is going to play. So we have to ask permission from the Gullases first because for now they want Slaughter to play under a solid UV lineup,” said Cabahug, who recently steered the UV Lancers to an unprecended seventh straight championship in the CESAFI.

With Slaughter off the line, Arthro coach Al Solis may have to activate 6-foot-7 Rino Berame and 6-foot-4 Michael Luga from their reserve list. With their varsity obligations now over for the school year, they may suit up for teams outside of the CESAFI.  Berame and Luga are expected to boost Arthro’s frontline immensely.

 In their first five games, Coach Solis drew firepower mainly from guards Alex Cainglet, Mark Ababon, Ronald Bucao and Doroteo Almacin en route to a 2-3 win-loss card.  Arthro, owned by sports patron Jonathan “Atan” Guardo, is fresh from a 104-91 demolition of the Goldstar Hardware-sponsored Duterte Agilas-Davao last October 12 and now hopes to win back-to-back games for the first time in the conference.

Landmaster of Joe Soberano and Mayor Jonas Cortes currently has the best record of 6-1 in the community-based league sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP). Ironically, their only setback came courtesy of Arthro, 81-93, last September 24 at the Cebu Coliseum.

 Seen to play stellar roles for Landmaster tonight are former MVBA Player of the Week awardees Mark Yee and Mike Manigo, Richard Ian Saladaga and Bong Marata.

Should Arthro’s young behemoths take the floor, Coach Jun Tan will counter with veterans Christian Nicdao, Harold Santa Cruz, Rex Mangubat and Jan Montalbo.

 Landmaster is currently on a four-game winning run, and hopes to make it five in a row.  Idle M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu (6-2) is also on a similar four-game streak and will face Landmaster this Friday at the Cebu Coliseum.