DEFENDING champion Davao Occidental tangles with Boracay Wednesday as the Pilipinas Super League Pro Division- Second Conference Dumper Cup gets going at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at 6 p.m., with a grand opening ceremony led by guest performers Boss Toyo, Mr. Phoebus, Zae, Paul N Ballin, and Ryssi at 4 p.m. expected to add glitz and glamor to the launch of the new conference of the league presented by Dumper party-list and Winzer.
Sta. Rosa Laguna squares off with Cagayan de Oro-PSP in the other game at 8 p.m. in the tournament also supported by Wcube Solutions Inc., MDC, Unisol, Don Benitos, and Finn Cotton, with former Philippine Basketball Asssociation (PBA) and Gilas Pilipinas star Marc Pingris serving as commissioner.
All eyes will be on the Islanders as coach Jiniño Manansala parades a roster led by former PBA MVP Jayjay Helterbrand, Mac Cardona, KG Canaleta, and actor Gerald Anderson.
Boracay will also be boosted by the core of National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities champion St. Clare College of Caloocan City.
“We have a lot of respect for Boracay. We know what they’re capable of,” Tigers assistant Coach Don Dulay said. “They’re going to be competitive.”
After ruling the maiden Pearl of the Orient Cup last April, the Cocolife-backed Davao Occidental crew is raring to win it all anew.
Mainstays John Wilson, Bonbon Custodio, Larry Rodgriguez, Gab Dagangon, Rob Celiz, Emman Calo and Earnest Alao will carry the fight for the Tigers, who will be backstopped by prized addition Kyt Jimenez.
Cagayan de Oro-PSP, which will field rappers Jose Mari Espiritu a.k.a. “Pricetagg” and Nik Makino, will bank on Jeff Comia.