MANILA, Philippines—Arriving in Cebu Wednesday morning for a series of tune-up games, the Blackwater Sports squad was welcomed by strong aftershocks following a massive 7.2-magnitude earthquake last Tuesday.
The most recent PBA D-League champions are in Cebu, a province with rich basketball history, as part of their training camp for the 2013-2014 season, which opens on October 24.
The players, a mix of standouts from the NCAA and the UAAP, are staying in the 21st floor of a popular hotel located at the city proper.
Bacon Austria, one of the team’s holdovers from last season, was among those who tweeted right after a tremor shook the building.
“Malakas, first time ko [maka-experience nun]. Para akong nagba-bounce or nagde-dribble sa bed (It’s strong, it was my first time to experience something like that. I was like bouncing and dribbling on my bed),” Austria told INQUIRER.net. “Tapos labas lahat sa kwarto (Everybody went outside the room).”
Blackwater guard Allan Mangahas, who rejoined the team after a brief stint with Meralco in the PBA, also described the aftershock as “strong.”
Since the destructive quake struck Visayas Tuesday morning, at least 820 aftershocks have been recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) as of 8 a.m.
Blackwater, meanwhile, will go straight to work in Cebu as the Elite are set to face Cesafi runner ups Southwestern University, along with University of San Carlos, and commercial team M. Lhuiller in exhibition matches.
Aside from retaining the core which helped the Elite seize the Foundation Cup title against NLEX, Blackwater also tapped Jericho Cruz and Joseph Marata among others.
Another PBA D-League team Jumbo Plastic will also be visiting Cebu next week for tune-up games.