Gems to test Waves, Adducul

The Metropolitan Basketball Association has picked Osaka Pangasinan Waves to be powered by prized center Romel Adducul to play against the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems in its fifth season inaugurals on April 6 at the Cebu City Coliseum.

"It’s all set, the MBA board and the league’s operations group has arranged this match-up to satisfy our followers’ growing curiosity on Romel (Adducul)," said Ramon Tuason, the MBA director for business and marketing.

Paired with Adducul, who helped the disbanded Manila Metrostars and the LBC Batangas Blades win the national crown in 1999 and 2001, respectively, is prolific pointmaker Chris Clay, formerly of the FedEx Laguna Lakers.

The Osaka Pangasinan-Cebuana Lhuillier match starts at 6 p.m. followed by the duel between Cagayan de Oro and TPG Davao at 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, TPG Davao has plucked Filipino-American sensation Billy Mamaril from the amateur ranks after its failure to acquire Adducul from LBC Batangas in a move that could boost its title chances.