INQUIRER Sports

THE SMART-PAMPANGA BUDDIES TRY TO buck a trend when the Liga Pilipinas Conference III Super Leg kicks off Monday at the New Cebu Coliseum.

Playing their best conference yet, the Buddies are out to end the reign of southern teams in the country?s premier community-based league.

Defending national champion Misamis Oriental Meteors and the unbeaten M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños remain in the hunt, along with the Buddies? fellow Luzon-based teams Quezon Red Oilers and Trace-Laguna Stallions in the five-team, seven-day round.

The Buddies, mentored by Allan Gregorio, earned an outright berth in the Super Leg after earning a second-best 36 points in the 10-leg Tour Phase.

?The Superleg is an exciting innovation this conference,? said Liga president and CEO Noli Eala. ?And we are just so happy that the best from all over the country are represented in Cebu to determine who is truly deserving to win the Liga crown.?

The Niños ruled the first conference last year, before the Meteors captured the Conference II crown early this year.

Expected to lead the Buddies? upset bid are Apayao Leg MVP Jonathan Aldave, guard Allan Husted, veteran Al Magpayo and new recruit Edwin Asoro.

?We are at our peak right now,? said Gregorio. ?Of course, there is still the bigger prize in the Super Leg and that?s our mission in Cebu.?

Games will be aired on a delayed basis on Solar Sports starting next week.

The Red Oilers, who ousted the MP Warriors of GenSan, 86-64, in the wild-card round to advance to the Super Leg, will again rely on Luis Palaganas, Jorel Canizares, Rob Labagala, the returning Hafer Mondragon and center Erik Suguitan. Jasmine W. Payo