MDX picks up where it left off tonight

The 2005 MDX Amateur Radio Club Inter-Color Basketball League roars back into action tonight and tomorrow with its regular doubleheaders at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

But rather than sticking with the original schedule, MDX president Bong Malasarte found it wiser to just pick up where the cagefest left off, relegating tonight’s announced matches to the backburner in favor of games postponed by the onslaught of Supertyphoon Nabi a week ago.

Tonight’s first game will pit defending champion and second-running Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense against hot-and-cold blowing SMF-Shell-Seabridge.

At 4-1, SIP is favored to slip past SMF. Expected to lead SIP are young guns Jason Amado, James Villacrusis, Leo Factor and old hands Edsel Mendoza, Robert “Onyok” Tamondong, and playing-coach Rick Alegre.

Sporting a level 2-2 card, SMF needs to have everyone from top scorers Leo Itaas, Gary Cayetano, Sonny Lerio to role players Ernie Moses, Giovannie Pardinan, and Noel Archangel in line in order to pull off the upset. The SIP-SMF tussle kicks off at 6pm.

Immediately following the match is the encounter between JCN Enterprises and Micronesian Brokers, Inc. set to start at 7:30pm.

JCN is a half game ahead of MBI in the win-loss column at 2-2. The former Mobil cagers continue to be a force in the league despite the loss of key men at the start of the season and would continue to be led by hotshot Andres “Jhun” Estolas.

Expected to lend valuable support to the many-time scoring champ are Rotary veterans Kevin Cequena and Rowell Aranda as well as all-time great Ed Palma.

MBI, which finished second runner-up up in the Saipan Ice cage league a few months back and is currently at 1-2, is still awaiting the return of prized center Elbyn Cecilia and in the meantime would have to rely on the court savvy of Jeff Garcia and Rene Pe and bullstrong frontliners Larry Palero and Bernard Samson just to keep their collective heads above water.

Undefeated Poohdeni goes for its fifth straight victory against winless Subway-Coca Cola when the MDX cage league resumes Sunday beginning at 4pm.

With the likes of veterans Pando Muleta, Jawn Joyner, Ed Cosino, Danny Bicera and rookies Lester Babauta and Erik Macaspac, Poohdeni is the odds-on favorite against a lightweight Subway team spearheaded by Bong Sese and Mike Achas.

The only way the sandwich-and-softdrink makers could pull off a victory against the former Visminda squad is if somehow Poohdeni players get overconfident and take it easy.

A more exciting encounter awaits basketball aficionados in the 5:30pm scheduled second game of Sunday’s doubleheader when 3-2 Cavite Country House locks horns against 287 Club Verizon, which is just half a game behind at 2-2.

Both teams are evenly matched with both quintets possessing height on the inside and quickness on the perimeter.

Patrolling the middle for Cavite is 6’3” shotblocking menace Delwyn Cortez, while Pampanga would be countering with sophomore Darwin Barbo and old hand Jhun Alipio.

Taking care of the outside shooting and slashing moves to the basket are Erol Peredo, Chris Domingo, Bernard Montano, and Kelvin Aldan for Cavite and Jhun Sinca, Randy Arconado, Randy Arnedo and Sonny Ranola for Verizon.