The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, headed by its founder and CEO Senator Manny Pacquiao, makes its initial international foray when it holds three regular games of the ongoing Lakan Season at Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai.
Pacquiao, his wife Jinkee, and other members of his entourage will leave today for the United Arab Emirates capital and most populous city yesterday along with other MPBL officials and staff.
The Davao Occidental Tigers left yesterday, while the Batangas City Athletics and the Imus Bandera will fly together today.
The Tanduay-backed Athletics include actor Derek Ramsay while the Khaleb Shawarma-supported Bandera have actor Gerald Anderson and 2009 PBA MVP Jayjay Helterbrand in their roster.
The Athletics and the Tigers will tangle on Friday, followed by the Athletics-Bandera tussle on Saturday.
Exhibition games featuring Pacquiao, his brother Bobby, and a selection of MPBL and team officials against teams from Dubai will precede the games.
MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes went ahead to Dubai to oversee the final preparations of the event organizer.
Ticket sales have been brisk and the organizing DJMC Events expects a sellout crowd.
STRIKERS TRIUMPH
Meantime, the Bacoor Strikers drew big game from Fil-foreign player Nick Demusis and showed glimpses of what they can do with a 90-80 victory over Nueva Ecija Forest Lake on Tuesday at Marikina Sports Complex.
The 6-foot-4 Demusis, who formerly saw action in the Thailand Basketball Super League, scored a team-high 15 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and issued 3 assists as the Strikers raised their record to 13-3 in the South division of the 31-team field.
Gab Banal, MVP of the MPBL Datu Cup, did his share for the Strikers with 13 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds while Michael Mabulac was solid with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Mark Montuano joined the double-figure scorers with 10.
The Pampanga Giant Lanterns shifted to high gear in the fourth quarter to rout Imus Khaleb Shawarma, 99-82, in the second game.
Led by Mark Cruz and Michael Juico who tallied 20 points each, the Giant Lanterns climbed to 10-5 while pulling down the Bandera to 3-11.
Cruz also dished off 12 assists, snared 6 rebounds and made 2 steals, while Juico snagged 9 rebounds. Former pro Dexter Maiquez added 13 points and 7 rebounds for the Giant Lanterns of Coach Bong Ramos.
Barely ahead, 63-61, after three quarters, the Giant Lanterns waxed hot in the final quarter with 36 points, including 8 each from Cruz and Maiquez.
The Marikina Shoemasters bested the Muntinlupa Cagers, 95-85, in the nightcap for their first back-to-back victory this conference and improve to 3-12 in the North division.
Resident gunner Yves Sazon topscored for the Shoemasters with 21, and got ample support from veterans Jojo Duncil and Jojo Duncil and new acquisitions Carlo De Chavez and Ronald Roy.
Duncil fired 17 points, Salvador contributed 10 points and 16 rebounds, De Chavez added 13 points and Rubi 12 points for Marikina, which pulled down Muntinlupa to 3-13 in the South division.
