The Trubitastic Impact of Batangas City Athletics

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OPINIONS, SPORTS | May 3, 2018

Batangas City Athletics celebrating after winning the inaugural MPBL ANTA Rajah Cup over the Muntinlupa Cagers (Image Source: Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League/Facebook/SPIN.ph)

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League has already gained traction in the Philippine basketball and eventually garnered a consistent strong following since the successful staging of the first conference in its maiden season, the ANTA Rajah Cup. There are many interesting factors and thoughts on how and why the new league is quickly becoming the talk of the town considering that it is not made to compete directly with the PBA. However, in this article, I will talk about one of the teams that has literally redefined the term "unstoppable force to be reckoned with" at the start of the season and that would be the Batangas City Athletics. 

Even before the start of the conference, I hardly learned of Batangas City Athletics being one of its participating teams only to realize that it is one team that many Filipino basketball fans should watch out throughout MPBL's initial year and its almost undefeated standing is a strong testament to its reckoning. All throughout the Rajah Cup, the Athletics only suffered two losses: one against the Bulacan Kuyas in the first round and second over the fierce Muntinlupa Cagers in Game 3 of the conference finals. Regardless of these setbacks, I was surprised and impressed to see the Batangas City Athletics struck their way to glory all the way towards becoming the Rajah Cup's inaugural champion.

There is one great saying in any basketball scene that a major factor in one team's enduring and unprecedented success is no less than its players and I'm sure that the Batangas City Athletics is no exception to that saying since it has great players that we didn't know about. The likes of Teytey Teodoro and the Rajah Cup finals MVP Val Acuña as well as some local players hailing from Batangas City are essential factors in the team's strong traction beyond the fact that it is representing the land of lomi and Barako coffee. Another factor in the team's worthwhile journey is probably the strong support from the Batangueño community especially when the team is holding their home games inside the Batangas City Coliseum.

Well, their unbelievable journey in the 2018 MPBL ANTA Rajah Cup is just the beginning as the team is expected to toughen up for the next conference with more teams bearing most provinces in Luzon and within the Metro slated to compete. In fact, the Batangas City Athletics would probably heed the skills of retired PBA player Jayjay Helterbrand as an intriguing addition to its cast of players. Regardless of its uncertainty, Filipino basketball fans will find out for themselves once the second conference begins in time for Philippine Independence Day. With its strong start immortalized in the Philippine basketball books and more preparations on the horizon leading to its next step to greatness, it is without any question that the Batangas City Athletics would surely exceed its own expectations and probably become the next-generation Batangas Blades by the end of the entire season.