The Café France Bakers are looking to regain one of the PBA D-League crowns
Café France have added two collegiate stalwarts to their roster: University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons shooting guard Paul Desiderio and San Sebastian College-Recoletos Stags power forward Michael Calisaan are set to join the Bakers in their PBA D-League Aspirants Cup campaign.
Desiderio, who is set to be part of the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Basketball Mythical Five team, is coming off a breakout season. In 14 games and 12 starts, he posted norms of 15.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists to lead UP to their best record in a decade.
On the other hand, Calisaan bounced back from a freak accident last summer. After sitting out almost the entirety of San Sebastian’s first round campaign in the NCAA, the NCAA Season 91 Most Improved Player averaged 10.0 points on 35.1 percent shooting and 6.5 rebounds in his first year under head coach Egay Macaraya.
Joining the two are holdovers JK Casino, Jason Opiso, and Congolese center Rod Ebondo.
Last season, the Bakers finished in second place during the Aspirants Cup, while bowing in the semifinals of the Foundation Cup. Both losses came at the hands of the Phoenix Accelerators.