Games Monday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
4 p.m. – New Zealand vs Canada (08)
6 p.m. – Thailand vs UK (06)
8 p.m. – Philippines vs North America (04)
The Philippines under-20 team, represented by the champion squad from Davao City-NTB Wolves that won the recent National Finals, will immediately get its baptism of fire as it takes on a crack team from North America to kick off the three-game bill in the opener of the first ever PSL Global Championship Challenge.
Game time is 8 p.m. as the Philippine Born 2004 team will face fellow young Pinoy cagers based in America and handled by no less than two former PBA players – Romel Santos and Dale Singson.
Santos was a member of the Shell champion teams in 1998 and 1999 while Singson, former star player of University of Santo Tomas, also played for four PBA squads.
The two will bring along Fil-American players culled from the NABA Basketball Intercity, a group formed by three-time Letran champion coach Larry Albano.
Among the notable players seeing action for North America are 6-foot-4 Kyle Perez, 6-foot-4 wingman Jason Suba and six-foot guard Richmond Casino.
Suba and Casino played in the NBTC last year and both of them have joined UST and Lyceum, respectively.
Of the two, Suba has more impressive numbers, posting averages of 11 points and 3.7 rebounds while playing for Kean University before transferring to UST.
The Philippine under-20 squad, on the other hand, will be handled by former PBL player Jigger Saniel and ex-PBA guard Pong Escobal and will be spearheaded by National Finals Moist Valuable Player winner John Eimrod Rodulfa.
Also seeing action on opening day are New Zealand and Canada’s Born 2008 division squads and Thailand and United Kingdom’s Born 2006 teams.
All teams participating in the PSL Global Championship Challenge are composed of Pinoy players based overseas.
Prior to the games, the league opens with a simple ceremony where a traditional parade of colors is set to happen as well as performances from It’s Showtime co-host Jackie Gonzaga and Pinoy band Silent Sanctuary.
