MANILA – After a noisy and painful season that saw the team be part of an alleged match fixing, the Sarangani Marlins (formerly known as Soccsksargen Marlins) went on a massive revamp ahead of the fourth season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
Sarangani tapped the services of former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) cagers Chico Lanete and Marvin Hayes while also adding former Caloocan head coach John Kallos.
The 36-year-old Kallos will be tasked to turn things around for the dysfunctional Sarangani roster, who the MPBL filed charges against its 21 members due to the mentioned reason above.
Apart from the charges, the Marlins had a disastrous campaign all season last year by dropping its first 21 games before chalking up its only win, 78-74, over the Quezon City-WEMSAP for a disappointing 1-29 record.
“Siyempre, aalisin natin ung mga panget na gawain dati. We will put players and coaching staff na competent, mga hard worker, meron pagmamahal sa trabaho, at loyal,” said Kallos, who led the Supremos to a 16-14 win-loss record in the MPBL Lakan Cup.
“I will build a team na trusted ko, build a good relationship with the players and always do your best and work hard,” added Kallos, who will be joined by assistant coaches Jester Macabagdal, Maricon Rearte, Gilbert Cole, Cris Bautista, Andrew Belarmino, and Emman Romey.
According to the new head coach, the arrival of Lanete, who won two PBA championships with the San Miguel Beermen last season, is a welcome development for his rebuilding squad.
Kallos said of Lanete: “Kilala ko na kasi siya since Philippine Basketball League days dati sa Nutrilicios team. Player siya ng brother ko (Monel Kallos) and he is a winner and a leader.”
Aside from Lanete and Hayes, Kallos will also be joined in Sarangani by his former Caloocan players Paul Sanga, Mark Sarangay, and brothers Joe and Carlo Escalambre./PN
