Games today: (Aquinas gym)

5 p.m. -- JRU  vs. Skyforce
6:30 p.m. -- UST-Ironcon vs. MOB


YOUTH  versus  experience   will be  the  theme  when  defending   champion  University  of Santo Tomas-Ironcon  Builders squares  off   with    MOB, and   Jose   Rizal  University  meets   Skyforce-LNC   in   a   pair of  knockout   matches in   the  MBL  Invitational   basketball  championship at  the  Aquinas gym in  San Juan.

UST-Ironcon, which   topped the elimination round with  a   rare nine-game   sweep, and  JRU, which finished  second with  a 7-2  win-loss  record, are favored   to  hurdle  their  respective   rivals  and  set up  a   much-awaited,   winner-take-all title showdown  between  two of   the  top  teams in  the  UAAP and NCAA.

But   MOB, which   clinched  the  fourth and  last semis  berth by edging  Mapua, and  Skyforce, which wound up third with a 6-3 slate,  are ready  to  play the  spoiler’s role to the  hilt and make  it  to  the  finals  for  the  first time  in  the 12-year-old  league sponsored   by  Cebuana  Lhuillier, Smart  Sports, Dickies Underwear, PRC  Couriers and  Parola Maritime.

Games begin at 5 p.m.

Handled  by coach  Pido Jarencio and managed by businessnman-sportsman  Jimi Limi of   Ironcon  Builders,  the  Tigers will be bannered anew by   the high-scoring Jeric Teng, bull-strong   Karim  Abdul  and  the   cat-quick  Jeric  Fotuna.

Also in  the Tigers’  star-studded   line-up are  Kevin  Ferrer,  Aljohn  Mariano, Clark  “Tata”  Bautista,  Paolo Pe, Melo Afuang, Louie  Vigil and Robbie Tan.

MOB, which is being handled  by coach Yong Garcia and manager Bien  Rubio, will  rely  on   ex-pros  Al Vergara  and  Boyet Bautista,  former national team mainstay  Richie  Melencio,   Jamal Viscarra,  Allan  Santos,  Robert Sanz and  Angel Raymundo.

Equally interesting is  the  JRU-Skyforce   encounter.

The Vergel Meneses-mentored   Heavy  Bombers  dropped a  close  decision  to  Skyforce in their  only meeting in the elimination  round.   

The Mandaluyong-based team  supported by athletic director Paul Supan  and  the alumni community  headed by Cora  Rodrigo,  will  lean  on    5-11 Nate Matute, 6-1  Byron  Villarias, 5-9 Alex  Almario,  6-3 Decoy Lopez, 6-4 Ronnel   Carampil,  6-4   Ralph   Monserat,  5-11  Romnick  Mendoza, 5-9 Phillip Paniamogan,5-9 Ivan Camasura, 6-2   Jordan Dela Paz, and 6-4 Michael Mabulac.

Skyforce of  playing coach June   Longalong  and manager Nestor C. Luego, will pin its hopes on  ex-pros Jeff Sanders, Braulio Lim and  Ronjay Enrile,  Ismael Junio,  MC Caceres, Galen Cacha,  Jay-ar  Taganas,  Leimar Navarro, Bamba  Florino and   Arnold Sta Maria.

Tournament director is Albert Andaya, while  commissioner is multi-titled coach Loreto “Ato” Tolentino.