- NIDA A. BUENAFE
Eight teams are seeing action as the United Negros Basketball League (UNBL) launches its first season tomorrow, Nov. 6, at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School Po Hang Gym.
Vying for the inaugural championship of the 1st UNBL Open Commercial League are Acster Marketing, Ra-ak Transport, Puff Boss, Silvergraces, Redhouse Taiwan Shabu2x/Uno-R, USLS, Team Davies Paints/LCC-B, and Lets Go Strived/CSA-B.
Reviving the passion of Negrosanons for local basketball and giving them quality match-ups, UNBL president Jun Ballesteros said the league is also an opportunity for college players to enhance their skills and talent.
With commercial league cagers seeing action in the tournament, Ballesteros said every game is expected to showcase a high level of competition that will surely bring back enthusiasm, among basketball followers in Bacolod and the neighboring towns.
Suiting up for the maiden offering of the league are MPBL players Mark Yee, Kraniel Villoria, Jhan Nermal, Jan Jan Pastias, Leo Najorda, Mr. MPBL quadruple and Youtube sensation Kyt Jimenez and foreign imports.
The tournament will start with the parade of the teams and opening rites at 1:30 p.m., followed by the curtain-raiser match-up between Raak Transport and Puff Boss at 2 p.m.
The UNO-R Rams and CSA-B Eagles will face each other in the second game, while the LCC Bacolod Titans will test the strength of USLS Stingers in the third game.
Acster takes on Silvergraces will clash in the nightcap.
Games will be played on Saturdays and Sundays at the BTTHS Po Hang, with the champion squad taking home P50,000 and the first runner-up, P 30,000. Second runner-up will receive P20,000.
Admission is free. | NAB
