Even with three leg titles tucked safely in their stead, the Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters are expected to still expected to be the underdogs as the final leg of the eliminations in the SMC Liga Pilipinas V gets underway tomorrow in Cagayan de Oro City.
Head coach Jun Tan would not want it any other way even as his squad is coming off its third leg title in a row after conquering the General Santos City leg of the tournament, culminating it with a title win over the hosts last Saturday.
Mandaue though, is in for a tough time in the final leg to be hosted by the Misamis Oriental Meteors. Waiting for them there will be the reigning national champions M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños and the GenSan-MP Warriors.
Tan, whose squad will still be spearheaded by two-time leg MVP Mark Magsumbol and recent leg MVP winner Ariel Capus, said that he doesn’t mind his team being the underdog as it lessens the pressure on them.
“Darkhorse lang gihapon mi. Basta our team will still continue to be full of surprises,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Niños are hungry for redemption after finishing dead last in the Mandaue leg, a first in the history of the multi-titled squad.
According to sources, the Niños have tabbed former pro Ogie Menor, Ahlein Maliksi, Mark Jefferies, Marvin Hayes and Argel Mendoza. Also making a comeback to the squad is Ariel Mepana.
The MisOr Meteors have also done some retooling of their own, picking up Alfred Gerilla, former University of San Jose-Recoletos ace Ardy Larong as well as bringing Mark Moreno.