MANILA – Eleven Western Visayas-based players are rostered to play in the UAAP Season 85 men’s seniors basketball which started over the weekend at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Five traced their roots in Iloilo City, three in the province of Negros Occidental, two in Bacolod City and another one in the province of Capiz.
Far Eastern University Tamaraws has the greatest number of Western Visayas-based players at three in Iloilo City natives John Bryan Sajonia and Menard Songcuya and Talisay City, Negros Occidental’s Rodel Gravera.
Reigning UAAP men’s seniors basketball champions University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, on the other hand, has two in Iloilo City’s Gerry Abadiano and Silay City, Negros Occidental native Harold Alarcon.
UAAP Season 85 host school Adamson University Falcons, meanwhile, has two in Bacolod City’s Joshua Fuentevella and Iloilo City’s Flever Dignadice.
Aside from the two, the Falcons also has second year forward Cedrick Manzano who was from Cajidiocan, Romblon but spent his high school years with Iloilo Red Phoenix of Hua Siong College.
UAAP Season 84 runners-up Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles is set to parade rookie Ian Espinosa from Iloilo City, while Roxas City, Capiz native Christian Manaytay returns to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.
La Carlota City, Negros Occidental native Mark Nonoy is returning to the De La Salle University Green Archers while Bacolod City’s Jojo Antiporda has another tour of duty with the University of the East Red Warriors.
National University Bulldogs was supposed to have a Western Visayas-based player as well in Bacolodnon LA Casinillo he but was ruled as ineligible to play this season due to residency issues.
The Growling Tigers, the Fighting Maroons, the Bulldogs and the Blue Eagles opened their campaigns with victories to stay ahead of the standings with 1-0./PN
