ILIGAN City – Manny Pacquiao will be the special guest of honor today in the opening of the country’s newest league, the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA), at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology Gym.
A huge crowd is expected to watch the opening of the league backed by major sponsors ML Kwarta Padala, Panasonic and Nature’s Spring Drinking Water.
MVBA officials
Joining Pacquiao in the 4 p.m. opening ceremonies are MVBA officials led by MVBA chairman and Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar S. Moreno, Armand Quibod of Monta?a Pawnshop, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano, Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz, Michel Lhuillier of M. Lhuillier-Kwarta Padala, Toledo City Mayor Joe Soeberano, Robert Uy of Toyota-Iloilo, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano, Tony Agustin, West Negros College-Bacolod owner and BAP Western Visayas director, and other local government and sports officials.
Raul Alcoseba, the MVBA’s prime organizer and BAP Central Visayas director, said that all team owners and officials have confirmed their attendance today.
Former PBA player cager Willy Generalao is the MVBA commissioner for Mindanao. International referee Jose Murillo is the MVBA commissioner for the Visayas.
Pacquiao’s team, PacMan-General Santos, will open the hostilities against Montana Pawnshop-Davao at 5:30 p.m. The main encounter pits Iligan City against Misamis Oriental at 7:30 p.m.
Then the four teams will switch opponents the following day with PacMan-General Santos going up against Misamis Oriental at 5:30 p.m. and Iligan City taking on Monta?a Pawnshop-Davao in the 7:30 nightcap also at the MSU-IIT Gym.
Cagayan de Oro will make its debut on March 9 at the Xavier University Gym when it plays visiting Iligan.
