Bong Go, the Special Assistant to President Rodrigo Duterte, will try to steal the spotlight from the heated rivalry between Mandaluyong and Muntinlupa, two teams which got embroiled in the Ray Parks tug-of-war in the off season of the MPBL.
An active baller himself, Go had just participated in the Three-Point Shootout competition of the recent PBA All-Star Game. He is currently included in the 20-man line up of the Angelis Resort-backed Cagers, runner-up to Batangas City Athletics-Tanduay in the inaugural Anta Rajah Cup, in the coming season which will open on June 12 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Go has confirmed he will play in the 9:30 p.m. main encounter, but his presence is just part of several interesting scenarios involving the Cagers and the expansion team El Tigre, a team which will be spearheaded by Parks in this prolonged season known as the Datu Cup.
The much-celebrated second generation player, one of the few Alab Pilipinas stalwarts brought into the league, has flirted with Mandaluyong, which also made an offer to the son of the late seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks, but ended up joining coach Mac Cuan and fellow Alab stalwart JR Alabanza, ex-PBA player Josan Nimes, and former pros Mark Andaya and Jeff Javillonar, two players who last saw action for the Valenzuela Classic.
Also seeing action for the stacked Muntinlupa squad are Gian Abrigo, the hardworking forward who previously played for the Quezon City Capitals, John Paul Cauilan, a standout from National University, brothers Tomas and Axel Torres and celebrity baller Xian Lim.
But the Cagers remained as competitive as ever and with the inclusion of four-time PBA slam dunk king Rey Guevarra and Chester Saldua to join the holdovers led by ex-pros Allan Mangahas, Chito Jaime, Pari Llagas, Dave Moralde, Dhon Reverente, and Felix Apreku among others.
Guevarra, however, is still awaiting his release papers from his PBA team, Phoenix before joining the Cagers.
The opening game between Marikina and General Santos at 7:30 p.m. is likewise expected to draw much attention.
All eyes will be on Gerald Anderson, the popular movie and television personality, who is going to play for the Shoemasters. Just trecently, Anderson was given a rude welcome by the San Juan Knights in the tune up game, but the celebrity baller vowed to come out more prepared next time around.
The Shoemasters will be facing the GSW of the South — the Golden State College Warriors of General Santos City.