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 Knights core that won the 2018-19 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup — namely Mac Cardona, Larry Rodriguez, Jhonard Clarito, and Aaron Jeruta.
Joining the ex-San Juan Knights quartet is a knight of a different kind in 22-year-old Letran floor general Fran Yu.
Letran athletic director and NCAA Season 96 president Fr. Vic Calvo has already transmitted Yu’s special guest license application to the Games and Amusements Board last May 12. Pro basketball division head Dioscoro Bautista is reviewing the application as of publishing.
Big man Gabby Espinas and gunner Jaypee Belencion will also play as “imports” for Zamboanga City.
Zamboanguenos Jens Knuttel, Rudy Lingganay, Gino Jumao-as, Med Salim, and Kyle Neypes lead the homegrown talents of the team.
Completing the squad are Jonathan Parreno, Jayson Rebollos, Jeff Bernardo, Totoh Indahan, Jerome Ferrer, Wang Alvarez, and Niel Jumao-as.
Serving as head coach of the team is Ateneo de Zamboanga mentor Tony Pardo. Joining him are assistant coaches Ronie Gallo and Ken Basiri; strength and conditioning coaches Glenn Archangel and Robelino Sardena; and staff member Raymond Mapanao and Jaytone Rakim.
The Mindanao leg of the tournament will tip off on May 30 in a province set to be announced this week.
