After three years in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, Basilan-Jumbo Plastic has decided to turn professional.
Basilan will now move to the Vis-Min Super Cup, the team announced on Monday afternoon.
With a new era comes a change in moniker. No longer will they be known as the Steel; instead, they carry the name of the Peace Riders.
Basilan figured in an issue with the MPBL the past week.
The Steel should have taken part in the MPBL Final Four in a bubble in Subic. However, two of their players tested positive for COVID-19 back on March 9.
MPBL and Basilan agreed to take a re-test on March 15. If any test yielded a positive result, the league would call the do-or-die game a no-contest, with Davao Occidental advancing to the National Finals.
Unfortunately, four members of the Basilan delegation netted positive results. Basilan’s brass has since questioned the sanctions.
The Mindanao Conference of the southern pro league also has the Cagayan De Oro Rafters, the Zamboanga Los Valientes, the Pagadian Explorers, the Roxas Vanguards, and teams from Sindagan and Ozamis.
The Peace Makers will still have Jerson Cabiltes as head coach. and will keep their lineup from the MPBL.
The Mindanao Conference of the league is slated to begin on the third week of May.
