ALL set for the opening of the National Basketball League (NBL) Inter-City Basketball Championship to be held at Santa Rosa Sports Complex on Saturday, July 9.

Five teams, led by host Santa Rosa City, will vie for the prestigious crown in this two-month long tournament organized by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) in cooperation with the International Sports and Cultural Association (ISCA)

Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas and Congressman Dan Fernandez have been invited to grace the opening ceremony, along with FESSAP executive vice president Dr. Robert Milton Calo.

Santa Rosa will meet San Pedro City in the curtainraiser at 5:30 p.m., followed by the game between Biñan City-Leads Agri against San Pedro City-2.

Team CalamBago of Calamba City will see action on Sunday.

Two other teams from Cavite and Batangas are also expected to join the tournament.

Multi- titled University of Manila Hawks of coach Loreto “Ato:Tolentino and Atty Ernesto Delos Santos was the first-ever champion of the NBL.

The Hawks defeated Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates.

To be handled by coach Mario Lopez Dichoso Jr. the Lions will pin their hopes on young players Nikki Louie Villamor Aytona and Kurt Johan Macalintal along with Sean Sandoval, JM Villegas and Allen Carvajal.

San Pedro City-2 of coach Allen Escariaga will parade a combination of young and veterans player for their campaign.

Biñan City-Leads Agri Corporation of coach Richard Penaranda will bannered by players from San Pedro College of Business Administration (SPCBA), led by JM Balboa, Mark Roca, Ralph Pantaleon, David Martinez and Angelo Rosales.

San Pedro City, which is being supported by Atty Melvin A. Matibag and Congresswoman Ma. Rene Anne G. Matibag will be handled by coach Aaron Mendoz and team manager Mark Miranda.

Calamba City Team CalamBago, headed by Mayor Roseller “Ross” Rizal, will be handled by coach Miike Sydiango and Francis Natividad, consultants Michael Alcasid, Elmer Duque, and Ernesto Pabalan and assistant coaches. Marlou Sarmiento, Ryan Mercado and Ron Paulangui.

Leading Team CalamBago are Lester Maurillo, Joven Alcantara, Patrick Parabulac, John Natividad and Andrew Liu.

BAP Region 4 head Leonardo “Ding” Andres is the commissioner while Martial Macapanton, Jonard Pacquiao and Romulo Raytos composed the committee.