MANILA – Sixteen players with roots in Western Visayas are rostered in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup, which will kick off this Sunday, August 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Of the 16 in the opening day lineup, seven are from Negros Occidental towns, four from Iloilo, three from Aklan, and two from Bacolod City.
Blackwater Bossing has the greatest number of Western Visayas-based players at four in Bacolodnons Kib Montalbo and Justin Chua, Silaynon Miguel Corteza, and Escalante City-native James Yap.
NorthPort Batang Pier, on the other hand, has two in Iloilo’s Juan Paolo Taha and Iloilo City’s Paul Zamar who was relegated to reserve list after sustaining a season-ending ACL tear injury.
Terrafirma Dyip, meanwhile, also has two Region 6-based players in Aklanon Andreas Cahilig and La Carlota City, Negros Occidental’s Mark Nonoy who is still on the team’s reserve list.
Meralco Bolts also has two in Ilonggo Antonio Jose Caram and Pontevedra, Negros Occidental native Raymar Jose, while San Miguel Beermen has Ilonggo Jericho Cruz and Aklanon Kris Rosales.
Meanwhile, with one each are TNT Tropang Giga in Manapla, Negros Occidental’s Paul Varilla, NLEX Road Warriors in Hinigaran native Jhan Nermal, Converge FiberXers in Aklanon Keith Zaldivar, and Phoenix Fuel Masters in Bago City native Raul Soyud.
There are some notable Region 6-based players who are not rostered in Bacolod City’s Jeffrei Chan and Siverino Baclao, Capiznon Mac Belo, Ilonggo Clint Doliguez, Silay City, Negros Occidental’s John Paul Calvo, and Antiqueño Tzaddy Rangel.
The PBA Season 49 will kick off with a matchup between Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots and the Bolts on Sunday night, after the PBA Season 48 Leo Awards./PN
