39th Tiong Lian caging to unwrap next month

Preparations are now underway for what is expected to be another colorful and exciting opening of the 39th edition of the Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association Championships which fires off on Jan. 10 at the UNO High School gym in Tondo, Manila.

MMTLBA chairman Milton Yu of host UNO High School said the opening ceremony will be short but meaningful one with PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad as special guest of honor in the tournament involving the country’s premier Fil-Chinese schools.

“It’s going to be a simple one just like the previous years,” Yu, UNO’s athletic moderator, said.

With the entry of Yakult and PG Flex Linoleum, the Board sees no reason why the coming edition would not be as successful as the previous years.

“We expect a robust attendance among the students of the league and we also expect another colorful action,” said Christian Tan, one of the league’s leaders. “It will be a balanced competition.”

Aside from UNO, also taking part in the tournament also backed annually by Converse, Puma, Davies Paint, FJ Jeans, Burlington, MEC Computer and Healthy Options are Xavier School, Chiang Kai Shek College, Hope Christian High School, St. Stephen’s High School, Grace Christian High School and St. Jude High School.

Xavier School will be defending its title it won over Chiang Kai Shek last year in one of the best-ever championships in years.

Bannered by RP Youth standout Gabriel Banal and Jeric Teng - both sons of former PBA stars - Xavier beat the then Justin Chua-led Chiang Kai Shek.

The sweet-shooting Teng, however, will have to double his effort this time since Banal has already completed his playing years for the Lito Vergara-mentored Xavier squad.

Aside from Chiang Kai Shek and UNO, also worth watching is Hope Christian High School which has trained long and hard enough for the tournament.

“Xavier has a slight edge but it’s going to be a tough race this time,” said Yu.