MANILA – Negrense Robby Celiz will be among the new additions for Cocolife-Davao Occidental Tigers ahead of their title defense in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Mumbaki Cup.
Tigers head coach Donald Dulay confirmed the acquisition of the Cadiz City, Negros Occidental-native forward since the team went on a massive roster overhaul this offseason.
Davao Occidental will be the Negrense’s third squad in the MPBL after suiting up for the Bataan Risers and General Santos Warriors.
As a cager, Celiz earned a wide experience by having played for the TNT Tropang Giga, Blackwater Elite, and NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA as well as with Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League, where he won a championship in 2017.
He is the third Western Visayas-based player in Davao Occidental’s roster aside from Mark Yee and Billy Ray Robles.
The Tigers also came to terms with former San Miguel Beermen guard Keith Agovida and Jose Mari Presbitero, who was left unsigned by the NLEX Road Warriors.
Completing Davao Occidental’s free-agent acquisitions were former Bacolod Master Sardines player Chris Lalata, Alwin Alday, Irvin Palencia, Chris Dumapig, Gabriel Dagangon, and Dariel Bayla.
“It was a tricky situation this time since we were not able to hold a tryout because of the quarantine. But we were surprised that they were available and we were able to get these guys,” said Dulay.
The team’s new acquisitions took over the spots of Jerwin Gaco, Richard Albo, Yvan Ludovice, Kenneth Mocon, Harry Dumagan, Angelus Raymundo, Jeck Desabille, Mario Bonleon, and Don Adormeo, who were all not offered contract extensions./PN
