MANILA – A Filipino-Canadian combo guard is set to reinforce the Iloilo United Royals-Cocolife ahead of its return in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) this 2023 season.
The 6-foot-3 Noah Libios Korovesi, who traced his roots to Pangasinan, is set to bolster the United Royals’ guard rotation with his outside shooting, according to playing team manager Jay Javelosa.
“Noah will serve as an additional weapon to our guard rotation,” Javelosa told Panay News on Tuesday. “With his height, he can play multiple positions so, at times, he can also play in our frontline.”
The 28-year-old Korovesi was a former standout of Loyalist College in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association. He is also eyeing to play in the Philippine Basketball Association in the future.
Aside from Korovesi, the United Royals also recently signed Cade Flores, Genmar Bragais, Marlon Basco, Nobie Lucero, Sonny Estil, JM Gonzales and Ilonggo Rhagnee Sinco.
The 6-foot-5 Flores had a strong rookie season with Arellano University Chiefs recently, while Bragais was among the standouts of Boracay Islanders in the Philippine Super League.
Others who made it to the final 20 lineup were homegrown players Omar Larupay, Leo Guion and Jhon Rey Sumido as well as MPBL veterans Ramon Mabayo, Jerie Pingoy, Ryan Arambulo and Marvin Lee.
Completing the United Royals lineup of head coach Manu Iñigo were incoming College of St. Benilde Blazers players Justine Sanchez and Tony Ynot, Ralf Olivares and Joe Joven.
The United Royals last played in the league during the 2021 MPBL Invitational bubble tournament where they were defeated by the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the quarterfinals round.
The United Royals, one of the three Western Visayas-based teams in MPBL this season aside from Negros and Bacolod, will make their season debut against Bulacan on March 17./PN
