Cebu Greats finalizing back-to-back MPBL home games
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebuano basketball fans are in for a treat this July as Cebu Greats, the lone Cebu-based squad in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), prepares to host back-to-back home games on local soil.
Team manager John Santos, along with members of the squad, was in Cebu over the weekend following an exhibition game in Tuburan, Cebu. The visit also coincided with a stop in Cebu City for the 49th birthday celebration of one of the team’s key players, Cebuano “Hotshot” Dondon Hontiveros.
In an interview with CDN Digital, Santos said the team is currently finalizing venues for their Cebu home stand. The Cebu Coliseum is already locked in for their first game, while discussions are ongoing for a second venue.
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The Cebu Greats are scheduled to open their home stint on July 16 at the Cebu Coliseum against Biñan Tatak Gel. The matchup carries added intrigue for Cebuano fans, as Biñan features two Cebuano standouts in Nic Cabanero of Lapu-Lapu City and Kenny Roger Rucacorva of San Francisco, Camotes Island.
Two days later, on July 18, Cebu Greats are set to face Caloocan Victory Liner. The Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City is being eyed as the potential venue, although management stressed that final confirmation is still pending.
Santos clarified that no official announcement has been made on the venues, noting that scheduling and availability are still being worked out.
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“As of now, pina-finalize pa namin yung availability ng Cebu Coliseum at Hoops Dome. Kinakausap pa namin kung ano yung mga schedule na available, so hintay-hintay muna tayo at maglalabas kami ng announcement kung na finalize na ang mga venues,” Santos said.
(As of now, we are still finalizing the availability of the Cebu Coliseum and Hoops Dome. We are still talking to them about the available schedule, so we’ll just wait a little longer, and we will release an announcement once the venues are finalized.)
Once confirmed, the double-header home stand is expected to be a major draw for Cebu basketball fans, marking the first time Cebu’s MPBL franchise hosts official home games since its formation last year.
Cebu Greats enter the stretch in strong form, riding a five-game winning streak and sitting fourth in the South Division with a 7–3 record. They trail Batangas City Athletics (7–2), while Gensan Warriors lead the division at a perfect 10–0, followed by the Quezon Huskers at 7–0.
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Biñan Tatak Gel, their July 16 opponent, is close behind with a 7–3 slate, while Caloocan Victory Liner tops the North Division at 10–0.
Santos noted that Cebu Greats remained focused on competition and continued improvement this season, crediting team owner Samson Lato for keeping the program alive and competitive.
“Yun talaga goal namin nung kinuha naming yung team last season. Ang goal namin ma continue… dapat hindi na ito matutuloy, parang walang tatayo at sasalo sa team last season,” he said.
(That is really our goal when we got the team last season. Our goal is to continue … this should not have continued. It seems that no one would stand and catch the team last season.)
“So, pikit mata na lang yung team owner namin na ituloy. Kahit parang nag-iisa syang nagdala ng team ngayon. Kahit walang support galing sa labas. At yung mga kinuhang mga players more sa pakiusap kesa sa presyo,” Santos said.
(So, the team owner just closed his eyes and continued this. Even though, he is the only one carrying the team now. And those players that we took in, it’s more of appealing instead of their price.)
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He added that the team was built not just to participate, but to genuinely compete against the league’s top contenders.
“Ang purpose talaga ng pagform ng team na ito is to compete with top teams. Hindi kami sumali para makasali lang. Sumali kami para makacompete talaga, lalo na sa mga top teams. Binuo namin yung team kung ano talaga yung kaya namin para makabuo ng competitive na team,” he said.
(Our purpose really in forming this team is to compete with the top teams. We did not join for the sake of joining. We joined to really compete, especially against the top teams. We formed the team, to the best of our abilities to form a competitive team.)
With momentum on their side and a home crowd expected to pack the stands, Cebu Greats are hoping their upcoming Cebu stint will further solidify their push in the MPBL South Division race.
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