The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League goes international on Friday when the Batangas Athletics tangle with the Davao Occidental Tigers in a regular game of the Lakan Season today at Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai.
The Tanduay-backed Athletics, along with the other members of the MPBL contingent, will be flying to the United Arab Emirates capital on Thursday afternoon.
Having flown ahead on Wednesday, the Tigers will be well rested and familiar with the playing court for a built-in advantage over the Athletics, who hope to shake off jet lag with a practice session a few hours after their arrival.
Senator Manny Pacquiao, the MPBL founder and CEO, will lead an MPBL selection against a local squad in an exhibition game preceding the Batangas-Davao Occidental tussle.
Flying in with the Athletics are the Imus Khaleb Shawarma Bandera, who will be their opponents on Saturday. Actor Gerard Anderson and former PBA MVP Jayjay Helterbrand are with the Bandera.
Both the Athletics and the Tigers are on a three-game roll, although the Cocolife-supported Tigers tote a better 13-2 record, the best in the South division of the 31-team league.
The Athletics, who have actor Derek Ramsay in their roster, have a 9-4 slate, good for fourth in the division behind the No. 2 Bacoor Strikers (13-3) and the No. 4 General Santos Warriors (11-5).
Veteran Mark Yee, Yvan Ludovice, Eman Calo and Chester Saldua will be among the key players for the Tigers, the South division champions in the MPBL Datu Cup.
Batangas is also no pushover being the inaugural MPBL Rajah Cup titlist.