Former PBA MVPs Agustin, Meneses renew rivalry as Stags, Bombers clash

Former Most Valuable Players Ato ‘The Atom Bomb’ Agustin versus ‘The Aerial Voyager’ Vergel Meneses. No, the two members of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players, are not going head-to-head for an explosive showdown playing inside the court. Instead, the champion mentor Agustin of the San Sebastian Stags, will meet Meneses, an upstart in collegiate coaching handling the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers, in one of the two interesting showdowns in the resumption of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan Friday. The two squads square off at 4 p.m. right after the match between Mapua and Letran. The Cardinals tote an even 2-2 slate for fourth while the Knights are at 1-3 after getting pummeled by San Beda, 77-60, last July 21. In only his rookie season last year, Agustin steered San Sebastian to its first title since 2002 by sweeping San Beda in last year's finals. This season, the Stags gun for a back-to-back crown and they appeared to be on the right track, winning their first four games. Will Meneses and his unpredictable JRU squad be able to unleash the heavy bombs and stop San Sebastian's rampage? Curiously, Meneses and Agustin were former teammates in the PBA when Sunkist was forced to trade Nelson Asaytono for the sweet-shooting guard from San Miguel. The RFM franchise, which was eventually renamed as Pop Cola, failed to make the semis in each of the next two seasons and Agustin would part ways with the Joey Concepcion-owned franchise in 1998. Agustin, then, brought his wares to the Pampanga Dragons, coached by now NCAA commissioner Aric del Rosario, to the inaugural Metropolitan Basketball Association crown in 1998. "We're buddies, so I'm looking forward at this match up. It will be a crucial game for our teams, since we're almost even in the standings," said Agustin. "It's always tough playing against JRU because they play tough defense every game," he added. San Sebastian will lean on workaholic forward Calvin Abueva, point guard Pamboy Raymundo and Ronald Pascual, who had 17 points in a 68-49 rout of Mapua on Friday. JRU, meanwhile, is once again banking on Cameroonian center Joe Etame, who is averaging 9.8 points, six rebounds and two blocks this season, as well as shooting guard Raycon Kabigting. - RCJ, GMANews.TV