HOMEGROWN players will have their opportunities to show their talents with Negros Mascuvados when it makes its debut in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) in the Mumbaki Cup season beginning June 12.
Mascuvados assistant coach Jophil Cercado told Panay News that the main objective of the squad is to allow the Negrense basketball players to show their talents on the big stage, just like the MPBL.
“Around half of our team so far were from Negros Occidental but we have allotted some spots if we can recruit some from other places, including Metro Manila,” said Cercado.
Bannering the Mascuvado squad were guards Francis John Parreño, Jaycee Adjei, Rolly Jaca, Jeric Adorio, and Jafet Claridad, all from Bacolod City and Jonathan Gantalao Jr. from Canlaon City.
Also in the team were forwards Patrick Dave Yulo from Binalbagan, Ritcher Santillan from Sagay City, and Christopher Menguez from Bacolod City. The team’s lone center so far is Janus Calma from Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod City.
Negros’ head coach is Rolando Aledron Jr., while his assistant coaches were Cercado, Edmundo Sibaya, Ireneo Morales, and Jay R Divinagracia.
The team owners of Mascuvados were Engr. Bernabe Gilbor and John Alfred Gilbor, who is also the squad’s team manager, while Martin Juson Sr. was the assistant team manager.
Mascuvados will be the third Western Visayas-based team in the MPBL aside from Iloilo United Royals of JJ Javelosa and Bacolod City-Master Sardines, which made their MPBL debuts during the 2019-2020 season of the MPBL Lakan Cup.
The United Royals had an impressive run as they finished the elimination round with an 18-12 win-loss record. They were beaten in the quarterfinals round by Basilan Steel.
The Master Sardines, on the other hand, had an inconsistent first season as they capped off the eliminations with an 11-19 win-loss record./PN
