Shin Dong Pa’s team vies in Lina caging

Five champion teams, led by reigning Asian University titlist Joong Tang University, will pit guts and skills in the first Bert Lina-Jam Mercado Battle of the Champions in Laguna which begins at the RECS Sta. Cruz Complex on March 13.

No less than Korean basketball legend Shin Dong Pa will be the head delegation of the Joong Tang cagers, four-time champions of the National University Games in Seoul, South Korea.

Expected to give fierce competition to the visitors are the Laguna Lakers, champions of the seven-nation Cheng Zhenggong Cup last year, and the Philippine national men’s basketball team, South East Asian Games and SEABA kingpin.

Also expected to provide intense challenge to the field are the Cebu-Lhuillier team, champions of the National Interclub and the powerhouse Wang’s Ballclub-Mandaluyong, which topped the recent Inter-Municipalities Basketball Championships.

"We look forward to great basketball action in this Battle of the Champions, a first and hopefully not the last to be hosted by our province," said Lina, Airfreight 2100-Federal Express chairman and godfather of the Philippine national youth team.