MANILA – Fourteen players who traced their roots to Western Visayas are rostered in the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup, which commenced on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Among the 14 Region 6-based players in the opening day lineup, six came from Negros Occidental towns, four others were from Iloilo province, three from Aklan, and one from Bacolod City.
San Miguel Beermen has the greatest number of Western Visayas-based players this conference with three in Aklanons Andreas Cahilig and Kris Rosales and Ilonggo Jericho Cruz.
NorthPort Batang Pier, on the other hand, has two in Iloilo-native Juan Paolo Taha and Iloilo City’s Paul Zamar, while Meralco Bolts also has two in Ilonggo Antonio Jose Caram and Pontevedra, Negros Occidental-native Raymar Jose.
Blackwater Bossing also has two Region 6-based players in Bacolodnon Justin Chua and Silaynon Miguel Corteza, while Terrafirma Dyip has La Carlota City, Negros Occidental-native Mark Nonoy and Aklanon Keith Zaldivar.
Meanwhile, with one each are TNT Tropang Giga in Manapla, Negros Occidental’s Paul Varilla, Converge FiberXers in Hinigaran-native Jhan Nermal, and Phoenix Fuel Masters in Bago City-native Raul Soyud.
There are some notable Region 6-based players who were not rostered this conference in Bacolodnon Kib Montalbo and Escalante City-native James Yap, who both last played for the Bossing.
Action resumes today at Ninoy Aquino Stadium with the Bossing facing Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots at 5 p.m., and the Road Warriors battling the Beermen at 7:30 p.m./PN
