THE Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League has forged a partnership with the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation to air the games of the Invitational Tournament set to start on Dec. 11.
The invitational will mark the return of the country’s regional men’s basketball league after a nine-month hiatus due to the pandemic.
“We are very excited partnering with the MPBL because we are going to go back to where we came from,” said IBC 13 Chairman Arturo Alejandrino. “We were in basketball before and for a while, we became very quiet, and partnering with them is really a milestone also for IBC and we are excited as they are.
The 22 teams competing in the 13-day event with a P2.7 million prize pool are All-Star Bacolod Ballers, Bacoor City Strikers, Bicol Volcanoes, Bulacan Kuyas, Caloocan Excellence, Gen San Warriors, Iloilo United Royals, Imus Bandera, Laguna Krah Asia, Makati FSD Blazers, Manila Stars, Marikina Shoe City, Mindoro EOG Burlington Tamaraws, Muntinlupa Cagers, Negros Muscovados, Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors, EMKAI – Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers, Sarangani Marlins, Val City – MJAS Zenith, San Juan Knights Go for Gold AICC, and Jumbo Plastic Basilan.
Meanwhile, Aldin Ayo calling the shots for Bicol-LCC in the tourney is a homecoming of sorts.
The new Volcanoes strategist, a native of Capuy, Sorsogon City, said he has long yearned to represent his home province.
“Actually, I committed to Bicol before pandemic pa. March 12 (2020), four days before the lockdown, naka-commit na ako sa kanila” Ayo said.
“Ever since naman, gusto ko talaga sa Bicol kasi hindi ko nai-represent ang Bicol when I was still playing, iyong mga Palarong Bicol, Palarong Pambansa, kasi nasa seminary ako, hindi kami pinapayagan ng mga pari. This is the first time to represent Bicol,” he added.
The league founded by Sen. and presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao is set to launch its Invitational tourney from Dec. 11 to 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay under a stringent closed-circuit format, with the players and officials, all of whom must be fully vaccinated, restricted in movement from their homes to venue, and vice versa.
