* * *TWO years ago this day, a daring group of basketball minds opened the United Regional Basketball League (URBL), a community-based league that hoped to continue from where the professional Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) left off after the latter suspended operations indefinitely in August of 2002.* Fitting elaborate rites at the New Cebu City Coliseum covered live over ABC-5 opened the new league with a bang.
* * *Most of the group was composed of former MBA personalities, led by basketball legend Ramon S. Fernandez, who reprised his role as league commissioner.
* * *The league counted five teams in its roster in a good representation of various ethnic groups of the whole Philippines: Ilocos Sur Snipers, Harbour Centre-Pampanga, Quezon Coco Huskers, Lactovitale-Cebu Province and M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City.
* * *Forward Melchor Latoreno of the Huskers had the honor of making the first basket in URBL history but his team lost to Lactovitale in the opening game, 77-82.
* * *M. Lhuillier defeated the Snipers, 3-1, to win the only URBL championship.* M. Lhuillier guard Woodrow Enriquez was named as the Most Valuable Player.* Joining him in the Mythical Five were teammate Bruce Dacia, Sniper Jerome Barbosa and Harbour Centre's Billy Bansil and Ariel Garcia.* Bansil and Garcia led the league in rebounds and points respectively.
* * *Unfortunately, the group could not ride on the momentum of a very successful first season and had trouble putting together the second season in 2005.* After several months of dormancy, management decided to close down the league offices in Pasig City, rendering the URBL into the archives of Philippine basketball history.
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Originally Posted by AnthonyServinio
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