Trace Laguna acquires Ekwe for Liga confab

Trace Laguna took Sam Ekwe from the special draft lottery, making the Stallions a title contender in the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference II which fires off next week.

In a move to further generate interest and level the playing field, Liga Pilipinas conducted a special draft lottery for the former two-time NCAA MVP with Trace-Laguna besting 10 other teams.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Ninos begin its quest for back-to-back titles as the community-based regional basketball league opens its Conference II on Jan. 14 with two new teams in its fold.

Eleven teams representing major provinces or cities in the country including two new squads, Manila and General Santos, will vie for the Conference II championship under the unique “tour format” which was unveiled by the fledgling organization last year.

Gensan MP Warriors, owned and managed by boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, will host the Laguna Trace Stallions, Ilocos Bravehearts and the Zamboanga Amores in the opening leg of the conference chiefly backed by telecommunications giant Smart Communciations. Brief opening ceremonies to be attended by Pacquiao, team owners and Liga Pilipinas officials headed by Noli Eala will precede the opening game between Ilocos and Laguna.

Ekwe, the 6-9 Nigerian who led San Beda to a three-peat championship in the NCAA last year, was allowed to be drafted for this conference after the Liga board passed a resolution last month granting special playing status to any foreign born player who has played for three years in any school league affiliated with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). Any foreign player covered by the new resolution, however, cannot negotiate directly with any team but must go through a special draft lottery.

“We prayed hard for this and we are so glad we bagged the big one,” said Laguna coach Nomar Isla.

With Ekwe around, Laguna hopes to improve its eighth place finish in the league’s inaugurals last year.

“He (Ekwe) will definitely boost our chances this conference although there are still many teams that are stronger than us,” said Isla. – Joey Villar