Ex-UV imports face off in Cebu-Leyte PBA charity games

CEBU, Philippines – Two former reinforcements of the University of the Visayas Green Lancers will tread separate ways in the keenly-awaited Cebu-Leyte Cup, a charity   basketball event for the benefit of typhoon Yolanda victims set to start today and will run until September 28.

Steve Cedrick Akomo and Mike Harry Nzensseu once donned the UV jersey and even powered the Green Lancers to a memorable championship in last year's Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. season  where they completed a highly improbable comeback from a 0-2 deficit to stun the Southwestern University Cobras in a best-of-five finals series.

This time around, they will go up against each other as Akomo will suit up for Team Samsam Gullas-Panalay Tailoring, while Nzensseu will play for Goldstar Hardware of Davao City in the basketball for a cause that features three PBA teams in Brgy. Ginebra Kings, Barako Bull Energy Cola and the Meralco Bolts.

The exciting face off of the Cameroonian cagers will take place today in Baybay City, Leyte where Goldstar-Davao will clash with Team Samsam Gullas-Panalay Tailoring play in a charity exhibition match at 6 p.m. at the Baybay gym.  Their duel will be further highlighted when Samsam Gullas-Panalay Tailoring and Goldstar Hardware will collide  at 7 p.m. on September 27 at the Minglanilla Sports Complex. In the main match, the Meralco Bolts will tackle Barako Bull at 8:30 p.m.

Akomo will be backed up by four other foreign players in Ramsey Williams, Christian Sentheu, Jean Jacques Manga and Emmanuel Ojuola. They will play alongside Ferdinand Lusdoc, Harold Cincoflores, Jovanie Aguilar, Patrick Cabahug, Reed Friar Juntilla, Jayford Rodriguez, and Ronaldo Bucao, who are all  former collegiate stars before making their mark in the commercial circuit.

Nzensseu, on the other hand, will see action together with Devon Sullivan, who suited up for Thailand in the Asian Basketball League, and a slew of  local talents led by Arjun Cordero of Lyceum University. Owned by Winston Ho, Goldstar is coached by Ice Gravador.

The finale of the five-day joust will take place on September 28 at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex. In the curtain-raiser at 4 p.m., the Barako Bull will square off against Goldstar Hardware, while in the main attraction at 6 p.m., Ginebra will slug it out with Meralco.

Tournament director Val Halen Parmis said the team with the most number of wins will be automatically declared as champion.

Tickets are priced at P150 (upperbox), P250 (stage), and P500 (ringside) for the Minglanilla games and P200 (upperbox), P400 (stage), P500  (lowerbox), and P700 (ringside) for the Mandaue finale. Ticket outlets include New Reroma Pharmacy at Poblacion Ward 1 in Minglanilla, Bigstart Travel  assistance at Robinsons-Talisay, Cebu Coliseum, and at The Old Spaghetti House in SM City-Cebu.

There will be free deliveries for a minumum order of tickets worth P1,000 in Cebu City and Mandaue areas only. For ticket reservations and further  information, one may call 0932-6448871, 0923-7482110, 0922-5183771, 0917-6888890, 0998-3985159, or 422-8988. — EBV) (FREEMAN)