FORMER CEBU Schools Athletic Foundation Inc., Jr. NBA and Talk ‘N Text Liga ng Bayan MVP Mark Jayven Tallo will be back in Cebu to play in front of his hometown fans as he leads the ThreeSixty Pharmacy against the vaunted Ave Maria Sanctuary and Park squad in the opening playdate of the Cebu Basketball Association-M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Mayor’s Cup this Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Tallo will not be alone as he will be bringing along several of his teammates from the La Salle Green Archers, including former Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology standout Jarelan Tampus.
Also on the squad are future Green Archers Lyle Sumayang and Raymar Jose along with several veterans, whom head coach Mark Tallo is still keeping mum on.
Ave Maria will be no pushovers as it parades a host of ex pros in Jercules Tangkay and Danny Aying. They will be supported by a bevy of current and former collegiate standouts including Alex Cainglet, Mike Cantonao, Cid Cortes and Jabe Delfino.
The final organizational meeting was held yesterday at the office of Cebu City Councilor and multi-titled head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba.
Also competing in the tournament, which dangles P100,000 as the cash prize for the champion squad, are Rollway Customs Brokerage, Asian College of Technology, SCSIT and Alcoseba’s own, the Southwestern University Cobras.
Competing in the first game, which is set at 2 p.m., will be Rollway and SCSIT and will be followed by the Cobras taking on the Cyber Knights. The Three Sixty Pharmacy/Ave Maria tiff has been set at 6 p.m.
Teams will play a single round robin with the top two squads at the end of that round earning for themselves a twice-to-beat advantages. The top seed will take on the fourth seed while the second seed faces off against the third seed in the semifinals. The finals will be a best-of-three affair. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio