From left, MPBL Assistant Commissioner Satar Macantal, IPI President Pio Castillo Jr. and Casino Active Cebu City Team Manager Mark Castillo during their formal signing to join the upcoming league.
THE second of the five-day tryouts for spots on the lone Cebu team that would be competing in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) — the Casino Active-Cebu Niños — was fiercer this time around with a veritable who’s-who of the Cebu basketball scene converging at the Capitol Parish gym along Escario Street.
Among those were two-time Cesafi MVP Enrico Llanto, former Coca-Cola and Sta. Lucia wingman Cesar Catli, former Letran Knight Hafers Mondragon and Franz Dysam, former San Sebastian Stag Lyle Antipuesto and a host of standouts from the Cesafi that included Rhaffy Octobre, Jun Luz, Alfred Codilla, Tristan Albina, Kevin Villafranca, Janjan Auditor, JR Puerto, Victor Nunez, Iron Suano, Franz Arong, John Abad and Harold Cincoflores.
Another ex-pro Jercules “Jojo” Tangkay is set to arrive today and join the tryouts.
According to team consultant Leode Garcia, they are happy with the turnout and is using these five day tryouts to try and get the players in shape.
“We’re not just putting the players in scrimmages. We want to put them through their paces through a lot of conditioning drills so that by the time that the head coach, Gilbert Castillo comes around, these guys will be in a lot better shape,” said Garcia.
Castillo is also expected to arrive in Cebu today and oversee the tryouts for the first time.
In related news, International Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has made their participation in the MPBL official after signing the contract yesterday.
Present during the signing session held at the company’s officies were assistant MPBL commissioner Satar Macantal, IPI President Pio Castillo Jr. And Casino Active Cebu City team Manager Mark Castillo.