ZAMBOANGA City will bring a loaded lineup to the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup’s Mindanao leg.
Headlining the team owned by Councilor Pinpin Pareja and Michael Dela Cruz is the Go for Gold-San Juan core of Mac Cardona, Larry Rodriguez, Jhonard Clarito and Aaron Jeruta that helped the Knights in the inaugural Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup in 2019.
Joining the ex-San Juan Knights quartet is a knight of a different kind in 22-year-old Letran point guard Fran Yu.
Letran Athletic Director Fr. Vic Calvo has already transmitted Yu’s special guest license application to the Games and Amusements Board last May 12. The GAB’s professional basketball division head Dioscoro Bautista is reviewing the application.
Big man Gabby Espinas and gunner Jaypee Belencion will also play as “imports” for Zamboanga City with Zamboangueños Jens Knuttel, Rudy Lingganay, Med Salim and Kyle Neypes leading the team’s homegrown talents.
Completing the squad are Jonathan Parreno, Jayson Rebollos, Jeff Bernardo, Totoh Indahan, Jerome Ferrer, Wang Alvarez and Niel Jumao-as.
Ateneo de Zamboanga’s Tony Pardo is the head coach while Ronie Gallo and Ken Basiri afe his assistants. Joining them are strength and conditioning coaches Glenn Archangel and Robelino Sardena and staff member Raymond Mapanao and Jaytone Rakim.
The Mindanao leg is set on May 30 at a still-to-be-determined local government unit.