MANILA, Philippines — The rookie squad looking more like an all-star crew kicks off its bid in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Monday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Hapee, which tapped some UAAP big guns along with the core of five-time NCAA champion San Beda, takes on fellow newcomer AMA University in a 12 noon battle that’s expected to be an easy first test for the Fresh Fighters.
Jumbo Plastic and Cebuana Lhuillier dispute the solo lead at 2 p.m., while MJM M-Builders and Tanduay Light, the two teams fighting over Far Eastern University standout Mac Belo, clash at 4 p.m.
Hapee returns to amateur basketball five years after it last saw action in the defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL).
And it seems like the Fresh Fighters want a grand debut by assembling a strong roster with former NCAA champion coach Ronnie Magsanoc calling the shots with fellow ex-PBA superstar Benjie Paras as his deputy.
Former two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Ray Parks banners the Fresh Fighters together with Ateneo’s Filipino-American guard Chris Newsome, La Salle big man Arnold Van Opstal, this season’s NCAA MVP Earl Thompon of Perpetual Help and Troy Rosario of UAAP champion National University.
The core of the dominant Red Lions also beefs up the squad.
“We need to work together as a team,” said Nigerian center Ola Adeogun, who is playing anew with some of his San Beda teammates.
“A team that has a lot of stars but cannot work together will not win games.”
Lending experience to the Fresh Fighters are former D-League MVP Garvo Lanete, Kirk Long and ex-pro Marvin Hayes.
Tanduay Light, meanwhile, tries to focus on its opening bid versus MJM M-Builders even as it continues to fight for Belo’s playing rights.
The league has ruled that the Builders own the rights to Belo, but the Rhum Masters are now mulling to take the issue to the courts to reclaim the FEU star.
“I think we can compete with anybody in this league as long as we stay focused,” said Tanduay’s Fil-Canadian guard AJ Mandani.