ALAB PILIPINAS : DONDON HONTIVEROS AND RICO MAIERHOFFER REINFORCES ALAB PILIPINAS

Alab Pilipinas just got stronger this coming season of the ASEAN Basketball League which will start next month.

In a press conference held this morning at the Shangri La Hotel at the Bonifacio Global City, the new roster which has been partially revealed over the past few weeks has been officially announced - though not yet complete. The new coach - Gilas legend Jimmy Alapag definitely has a good team at his hand.

Previously revealed in the line up are Alab Pilipinas hold overs Rayray Parks, Robby Celiz and Lawrence Domingo. They will be reinforced by former Talk N Text import Ivan Johnson.

Also joining the team are Chris Sumalinog, Josh Urbiztondo, Pamboy Raymundo and former NU Bulldog Pau Javelona. Just this morning, it was announced that PBA veterans Dondon Hontiveros and Rico Maierhofer are also joining the team.

With this, 10 players of the roster has been revealed and 2 more to named soon. I am so excited to know the complete line up of Alab Pilipinas and I think based on the initial names, they will be more competitive as compared to last year and will give the other teams a run for their money.

The team will also be known as Tanduay Alab Pilipinas, having Tanduay as the team's major sponsor.

Their first game was also announced to be on November 19 at the MOA Arena and will go up against the defending champions Hongkong Eastern Long Lions.

Good luck Tanduay Alab Pilipinas!

UPDATE : As of this afternoon, reports say that Reggie Okosa will be the other reinforcement of Alab Pilipinas this season. He has played against Ivan Johnson in the Korean Basketball League.

ASEAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE : ALAB PILIPINAS SCHEDULE FOR 2017 - 2018 SEASON

The schedule of Alab Pilipinas in the 2017 - 2018 season of ASEAN Basketball League is now out. The schedule for November to March play dates was posted in the official Twitter account of the league this evening.

This season, Alab Pilipinas will have a new head coach Jimmy Alapag. Rayray Parks, Robby Celiz and Lawrence Domingo will be back together with former PBA Chris Sumalinog. The team will be reinforced by former Talk N Text import Ivan Johnson.

Alab Pilipinas' schedule for the season is as follows:

Nov 19, 8pm - vs Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions - TBA
Nov 29, 8pm - vs Singapore Slingers - TBA
Dec 13, 8pm - vs Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions - Souther Stadium, Wan Chai
Dec 16, 3pm - vs Formosa Dreamers - Changhua Stadium, Changhua City
Jan 3, 8pm - vs Westports Malaysia Dragons - TBA
Jan 7, 4pm - vs Singapore Slingers - OCBC Arena, Singapore
Jan 10, 8pm - vs Singapore Slingers - TBA
Jan 14, 7pm - vs Mono Vampires - Stadium 29, Bangkok
Jan 20, 7pm - vs CLS Knights - GOR CLS Kertajaya, Surabaya
Jan 28, 5pm - vs Saigon Heat - CIS Arena, Ho Chi Minh City
Jan 31, 8pm - vs Nanhai Long Lions - TBA
Feb 4, 4pm - vs Singapore Slingers - OCBC Arena, Singapore
Feb 7, 8pm - vs Mono Vampires - TBA
Feb 11, 7pm - vs CLS Knights - GOR CLS Kertajaya, Surabaya
Feb 18, 7pm - vs Formosa Dreamers - TBA
Mar 4, 2:30pm - vs Westports Malaysia Dragons - MABA Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
Mar 11, 7:30pm - vs Nanhai Long Lions - Nanhai Gymnasium, Nanhai
Mar 14, 8pm - vs Saigon Heat - TBA
Mar 21, 8pm - vs CLS Knights - TBA
Mar 25, 8pm - vs CLS Knights - TBA

Good luck Alab Pilipinas!

2017 FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONS CUP : CHOOKS TO GO PILIPINAS WILL PLAY AS A WILDCARD

It looks like Thailand's Mono Vampire is not the only Southeast Asian team that will join the 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Chenzou, China on September 22 - 30, 2017.

After a successful partnership with Gilas Pilipinas in the Jones Cup, 2017 FIBA Asia Cup and the 2017 Southeast Asian Games; Chooks to Go is again partnering with SBP to send a team - Chooks to Go Pilipinas to this tournament as well.

It was first announced by Coach Chot Reyes in his Twitter page with this post:

Breaking: Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas joins @FIBAAsiaCC. Games will be shown @TV5manila & @Sports5PH

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) September 5, 2017

It was confirmed by this article posted in the official website of the 2017 FIBA Asia Champion's Cup. Apparently, the Japan team SunRockers Shibuya withdrew due to the conflicting schedule with the B.League. Thus, FIBA awarded the wildcard to the Philippines.

The Chooks To Go Pilipinas team will be coached by none other than Coach Chot Reyes and Coach Jong Uichico as his deputy. Confirmed part of the team are Gilas players Fil-German Christian Standhardinger, Kiefer Ravena and Rayray Parks. It is also reported that Reymar Jose, Kobe Paras (if allowed by his college team), Jeron Teng, UP Maroons Jett Manuel and Bright Akhuetie will also join the team.

It is also not clear if PBA will also be allowing the Gilas Cadets to join the team, as this is not a national team tournament.

The team will be in Group A with BC Astana of Kazakhstan, Mono Vampire of Thailand, Petrochimi of Iran and Sarreyet Ramallah of Palestine.

The last time Philippines joined the FIBA Champions Cup was in 2011 when Smart Gilas Pilipinas hosted the other teams in the tournament. The team ended in 4th place that year.

Good Luck Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas! #LabanPilipinas