Seven teams see action in PBL-CBL dual meet

The Philippine Basketball League-Cebu Basketball Federation (PBL-CBL) Dual Meet shifts action to Cebu with seven teams — three PBL and four Cebu squads — vying for the crown from Oct. 13-22 at the University of San Carlos gym.

Apparently, the quest for the PBL-CBF Dual Meet Cebu crown became an open hunt after PBL-CBF Dual Meet champion John-O and runner-up Hapee Toothpaste-Cebu begged off from the tournament for undisclosed reasons.

PBL Chairman’s Cup runner-up Blu All Purpose, Regent-Shark and Montana will carry on PBL’s quest for the crown against four tough CBF teams — Casino Rubbing Alcohol, GMC-Tortillos, Skygo Riders and Cebuana Lhuillier in the 10-day event.

"This will be a tougher challenge for PBL teams since the Cebuano squads will be going all out to capture the plum on their own turf," said PBL deputy commissioner Tommy Ong.

The seven teams will battle each other in a single round-robin series with the top four squads qualifying into the crossover semifinals. In case of ties, quotient system will be applied.

The winners of the crossover semifinal matches will dispute the crown in a sudden death duel, while the losers will engage in a knock-out game for third place.

Blu and Regent-Shark are favored to get into the finals.

The Detergent Kings will parade the intact core of point Lou Gatumbato, Tristan Codamon, hardworking Aries Dimaunahan, Eric de la Cuesta, Arnold Calo and Marlon Legaspi and beefed up by Allan Gamboa.

Regent-Shark will be bannered by shifty pointguard Warren Ybanez and the twin tower of 6’6 Rysal Castro and 6’8 Irvin Sotto, backed up by three-point shooters Ernani Epondulan, Ismael Junio and Cebu homegrown talent Mark Abadia.

But don’t count Montana Jewels out. Unlike in the PBL-CBF Dual Meet in Pasig, the Armand Quibod-owned team will be parading a stronger, more complete team led by 6’6 Billy Mamaril, San Sebastian’s 6’4 center-forward Jam Alfad, St. Benilde’s Jon Dan Salvador and Sunday Salvacion, speedy Edgar Echavez and rookie recruit 6’5 Raymond Kelvin Dula.