ILOILO City – Ilonggo guard Franz Diaz has decided to turn pro with the Iloilo United Royals-Cocolife in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) season after his failed bid to join the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.
The Iloilo City guard was among the first recruits of returning Growling Tigers head coach Alfredo “Pido” Jarencio early this year but he was deemed ineligible to play in the UAAP.
“It was very unfortunate because it was really my dream to be able to play for UST and in UAAP,” Diaz told Panay News on Wednesday. “But some things are really not meant to be.”
Diaz, a former standout of Centro Escolar University Scorpions, cannot play for any UAAP team anymore as he previously played in VisMin Super Cup via Special Guest License, which is not recognized by the UAAP Board.
Diaz, however, was still thankful to the United Royals for giving him the opportunity to play for his hometown team and is looking forward for the squad’s home matches later this year.
“Actually, they were already contacting me since I left UST, but I was still not yet ready that time. But I am thankful that the slot for me was still there now that I am ready to turn pro for good,” Diaz said.
Diaz was a former standout of Ateneo de Iloilo before being recruited to continue his high school career with Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and De La Salle Santiago-Zobel.
Diaz was part of the CEU Scorpions team under then head coach Derrick Pumaren that finished runner up to Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in the 2019 PBA D-League Finals.
The Ilonggo guard was also part of the CEU team that swept the recent Universities and Colleges Basketball League tournament under resigned head coach Chico Manabat last February.
At the Royals, which currently has 0-4 record, the 5-foot-9 Diaz is set to join fellow homegrown players in Jay Javelosa, Earl Murphy, Leo Guion, Omar Larupay, Jhon Rey Sumido and Rhagnee Sinco.
The rest of the Iloilo roster has Gerald Anderson, Justine Sanchez, Tony Ynot, Cade Flores, Neil Tolentino, Joshua Flores, Ryan Arambulo, Noah Korovesi, Aldeo Lucero, Joe Joven, Philip Paredes, AJ Madrigal, Conrad Catapusan, JR Ongteco, Lorenzo Navarro and Marlon Basco./PN
