Former NCAA MVP Ekwe to play in Liga cage tilt

MANILA, Philippines – Sam Ekwe can’t play in any professional league in the country because he isn’t a Filipino. That ended on Tuesday after the Nigerian-born center was drafted by a team in the Liga Pilipinas. The Liga board members passed a resolution in December that granted “special playing status" to foreign-born players who played at least three years in any varsity league affiliated with the national federation Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. Ekwe, a two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association MVP and three-time NCAA champion with San Beda, fit the bill. And with his participation in the Liga Conference II, the tournament is expected to gain an improved following as the league’s first legitimate superstar debuts for the Trace-Laguna team. “We prayed hard for this and we are just so glad we bagged the big one," said Nomar Isla, the Laguna head coach who picked Ekwe in a special rookie draft held among 10 teams Tuesday. Ekwe and Garcia’s Stallions will see action in the first leg of the elimination phase that starts on January 14 in the home court of expansion team GenSan MP Warriors in General Santos City. Other teams competing in the Gensan leg are Ilocos Sur and Zamboanga. “Sam is a special player. He is a proven winner and an attraction in any league. His entry into Liga will provide added competitiveness and intensity to our games for all of our regional fans," Liga president Noli Eala said. Other teams in the tournament include: Manila, Smart-Pampanga, Harbour Centre-Taguig, Quezon province Red Oilers, Iloilo Mang Inasals, Misamis Oriental Meteors, and defending champion Cebu. – GMANews.TV