Tournament darkhorse Ilocandia Bulls will have their hands full as they test league leader Western Union, Sunday in the resumption of the Filipino Basketball League (FBL) at the Palau National gym.

The Bulls, sporting a 5-3 win-loss record, will try to bash Western Union’s clean slate in their 3:30 p.m. match. The Bulls will again rely on the troika of RB Dorado, Edward Baysa and Marvic Ngchar. They will be backed by Raul Osias, Ryan Cacho, Jun Villena and Dondon Cabasal.

On the other hand, Western Union place at stake their 9-0 record in the team standings as they will bank on the performances of Dennis Castro, Anon Cajegas, Bong Alambra, Michael Garcia and Al Obrero.

Meanwhile, the Royal Cargo Rangers will face the Aloha Maid Choppers in the curtain raiser at 11 a.m.  Despite missing the services of ace gunner Nico Hinoza, the Rangers (5-4) will have Lorens Heria, Mac Fernandez, Mike Guevarra, Jay and Jomar Naguit, veteran skippers Jimmy Domingo, Cid Aquino and Rogelio Fernandez.

The Choppers (7-2), sponsored by Shimbros International, will again have Arvin Pramo, Arvin Tacder, Jerson Talavera, JR Grapa, JR Gonzales, Mark Louie Lofranco, Nelson Dupalco and Jojo Servantes for scoring chores.

Other games will have Rams versus Hanpa Cardinals at 12:30 p.m. while PNQ Crushers will meet the FR Spoilers at 2 p.m.

Sponsors for this year’s season are Aqua Pure Water, ATT Karaoke and Bar, Blue Bay Petroleum, CTSI Palau, Hanpa Industrial Development Corporation, HBO, Kumangai Bakery, Midtown Gas Station, Mingles Tototo, MJ Trading, Palasia Hotel, Palau Pacific Resort, Palau Trading, Pinoy Express Remittance, Shimbros International, Surangel and Sons, The Taj Palau, Palau Curtain, Engr. Bobby Pineda and Western Caroline Trading Company (WCTC).

The Filipino Basketball League (FBL) is under the supervision of the Palau Basketball Federation (PBF).  By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)