MMTLBA opening League honors former aces; Chito Salud main guest

MANILA, Philippines—PBA commissioner Chito Salud will be one of the special guests when the Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association launches its 42nd edition on Saturday at the Uno High School gym.

The amiable executive of Asia’s first professional basketball league will be joined by officials and supporters of Grace Christian College—this year’s host—in the opening ceremony where former stars of the premier Fil-Chinese league will be honored.

Dr. James Tan, the president of Grace Christian College, chairs the MMTLBA which will have the theme “Moving forward, Achieving Unity” this year.

Among the former stars who made big contributions to the league’s growth are Fortunato “Atoy” Co, Lim Eng Beng, Sunny Co, Alfrancis Chua, Woody Co, TY Tang, Joseph Yeo, Chris Tiu, Christian Luangzon and Jeric Teng.

Chua, who steered Stag-Tanduay to six championships in the now defunct PBL before handling several teams in the pro league, has been tapped as the commissioner of the centerpiece Juniors Division.

MMTLBA chair Bonnie Tan of the host school said the league will also have competitions in the Aspirants and Girls High School divisions which will also fire off Saturday.

The 1:30 p.m. showdown between Xavier School, which is seeking a fifth straight title, and Chiang Kai Shek College will highlight the three-game schedule of the event presented by Regan Industrials Sales Inc. and World Balance and supported by Uratex, Burlington, Summit Drinking Water, 100 Plus, Supreme Steel Pipe, Superior Pipe and Ace Water Spa. Molten is the official game ball.

Backstopped by Youth Olympic Games veteran Jeron Teng, the XS Golden Stallions bounced back from a shocking Game 1 loss to beat Hope Christian High School in their 2011 best-of-three championship series and claim their 10th Juniors championship.

Though CKSC has yet to win a title since the departure of Justin Chua in 2008, it remains as the winningest squad in league history with 14 championships.

Other teams competing in the six-week tournament are St. Stephen’s High School, St. Jude Catholic School and Uno High School.