By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA—The third season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League will start from where Season 2 literally left off.
An early finals rematch between San Juan and Davao Occidental will highlight the opening night festivities of Season 3 on June 12 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Knights took home the national championship last month after a wild Game 5 finish against the Tigers in Davao City.
[Related Story: San Juan claims MPBL title at Davao Occidental on endgame push]
Davao Occ, however, will get a quick chance to get back at San Juan, although in a regular season game.
The showdown will commence at 9 p.m., right after the 7 p.m. curtain-raiser between expansion side Bicol and newly-retooled Basilan.
The Volcanoes are one of two new squads who are confirmed to joining the MPBL, the other being fellow Southern Luzon squad Mindoro Tamaraws.
On the other hand, the Steel will parade a heavily tweaked roster led by former Philippine Basketball Association star Jonathan Uyloan and former Quezon City Capitals Hesed Gabo and Jay Collado.
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