CURRENT players of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) newcomer Iloilo United Royals could not afford to be complacent as they can be replaced anytime if they underperformed.
Dexter Dy, Royals’ head recruiter for Western Visayas, told the Buzzer Beater that Royals’ team owner JJ Javelosa plans to make a pool of players from those who tried out in Iloilo City that are ready to replace underperforming players.
“No one is safe sa team,” Dy said. “Lahat nung mga naka-lineup na players puwede pang mapalitan or ma-waive if they underperformed. The team can change players naman until the playoffs.”
“Boss JJ wants to develop a grassroot program from those who tried out in Iloilo. If they were not selected from the tryout, they should not give up because they will be considered if the team waives a player.”
“Their talent has been seen (by the coaching staff during the tryout) and they can be activated in the future,” he said. “There are a lot of talents in Western Visayas all they need is opportunity.”
The entry in the MPBL served as Iloilo’s return to regional basketball scene after previously participating in the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) in 1998 as Iloilo Megavoltz.
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A week after Bobby Ray Parks made his impressive league debut for Blackwater Elite, another league newcomer have showed his wares in the ongoing 2019 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Jaymar Perez erupted for a new career-high of 39 points in steering Columbian Dyip to its breakthrough win in the Commissioner’s Cup at the expense of the NLEX Road Warriors.
Perez went 15-of-21 from the field and had nine rebounds, three assists, three steals, and just a single turnover in 35 minutes of play as the Dyip finally made the win column after losing their first three outings.
Perez’s career-best made him the hands down choice as the PBA Press Corps-Cignal Player of the Week from May 29 to June 2 making him the second rookie to earn the weekly citation aside from Parks.
Perez was on beast mode in the game against NLEX that deputy mentor Jojo Lastimosa, calling the shots for the team in the absence of coach Yeng Guiao, admitted the Road Warriors had no answer against the former NCAA MVP from Lyceum.
In the end, Lastimosa, a member of the league’s 25 Greatest Players, gave Perez the ultimate compliment by referring to him as “a star in the making.”/PN
