Everything and Anything about Tiong Lian

41ST MMTLBA SEASON IS ON!

By Henry L. Liao

The 41st season of the Freego Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association unwraps on December
6, with Chiang Kai Shek College taking on St. Stephen’s High School in the lone game (3:30 p.m.) at
the SSHS gym.

Seven schools are competing in the three-month high school basketball tournament which calls for a
double elimination-round format for the first time since 2005.

In addition to host Chiang Kai Shek College and St. Stephen’s High School, other teams in action are
Hope Christian High School, St. Jude Catholic School, Grace Christian High School, Uno High
School and defending champion Xavier School.

The first-round games will be alternately held in different schools. The entire second round, which
starts on January 15 next year, will be played at the CKSC gym.

Freego is the MMTLBA’s title sponsor for a second straight year.

Other sponsors are Orocan, Burlington, Fern C, Bow & Wow, Converse, Davies Paint and Molten.

Xavier School, which is powered by team captain and cerebral playmaker Bryan Tan and PH Under-16
and Under-18 team member Jeron Teng (a son of former PBA bruiser Alvin Teng and the younger
brother of ex-Xavier School product and current UST star Jeric Teng), is looking for an unprecedented
fourth straight title in the Juniors Division.

Expected to give the Golden Stallions a run for their money are Hope Christian High School and Chiang
Kai Shek College.

St. Jude Catholic School, the losing finalist in the last two years, is a darkhorse.

Hope Christian won all of its games in topping three preseason tournaments.

The coach Steve Tiu-coached team is built around cat-quick guard Janrey Garrido and big men Errol
Villar, Jessiery Pedrosa and King Benemerito.

Chiang Kai Shek College, the fourth-placer a year ago, has it core group back.

The Blue Dragons are built around skipper Greg Gimado and hotshot Paul Aduana.

St. Jude Catholic School is returning with streakshooting Jason Ligad but lost hardworking big man
Kim Lo, now Jeric Teng’s teammate with the UST Growling Tigers,

Burly Kent Lao is St. Stephen’s High School’s most prominent holdover.

Sweetshooting guard Khristian Furigay and bespectacled Kevin Lao spearhead Grace Christian
College’s campaign while veterans Benson Tan and Justin Co are expected to play major roles for Uno High School with the loss of top playmaker Isaac Lim to De La Salle-Zobel.