Focus on Cortez, MBA star today

A Cebuano streak-shooter and a collegiate phenom take center stage today when Regent-Shark and ICTSI-La Salle tackle different foes at the resumption of the PBL Challenge Cup at the Makati Coliseum.

Stephen Padilla, known in the defunct MBA as a deadshot, debuts for the Cheeseballs at 3 p.m. versus the Sunkist Juicers while Mike Cortez, a La Salle standout, hopes to lead the Archers against the Dazz Grease Busters at 5 p.m.

Padilla, a vital cog in two runner-up finishes by Cebuana Lhuillier in the MBA, was acquired by Regent-Shark recently after an impressive performance in the PBL-CBF Dual Meet II in Cebu City a month back.

Cortez leads a team that also recruited celebrated MBA cagers Bruce Dacia, Reynel Hugnatan and Dino Aldeguer.

Fast-rising James Yap, however, will not suit up for Franz Pumaren and the Archers as the Iloilo-born gunner, MVP of the UAAP-NCAA Benefit Games, is seeking to be traded to the Boyzie Zamar-mentored Sunkist-University of the East. Reports have it that ICTSI has yet to sign up Yap’s release papers.

The Dazz-ICTSI match also marked the return of Junel Baculi, who is back with the Lamoiyan franchise after a brief MBA stint with the Olongapo Volunteers. Baculi was coach of Dazz when it won a PBL title in 1997.

He also steered former team Welcoat Paints to four crowns.

"I’m happy to be back in the league where I first started coaching," said Baculi. "I know this conference is going to be tougher because we’ll be playing against the best collegiate players and those coming from the MBA."

Also doubtful starters for Dazz are Rico Villanueva, Wesley Gonzales and Rich Alvarez, members of the Ateneo squad that topped this year’s UAAP. The three, whose rights are reportedly owned by the Grease Busters, are currently out-of-town.

Zamar, for his part, will have his hands full against two-time PBL titlist Regent-Shark, another team teeming with talent and experience.

Aside from Padilla, the Cheeseballs have also acquired ex-pro Michael Robinson and Francis Sanz and an array of collegiate talents in Adamson’s Mark Abadia, St. Benilde’s Jan Coching, National University’s Rey Mendoza and Philippine Christian University’s Nelbert Omolon to beef up their roster.

"We’re a combination of veterans and young players so we will not be having problems with talent and experience," said Regent-Shark mentor Jing Ruiz, who took over the coaching reins from Leo Austria.