Mindoro will have another team to represent them.
Besides its Tamaraws team that will compete in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Mumbaki Cup, Mindoro will also field a team in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go NBL’s first pro season, the Tamaraws Disiplinados.
The difference between the two squads is simple, according to head coach Justin Tan.
“Yung NBL team will be our team for our homegrown players while yung MPBL team namin yung showcase team namin,” said Tan, who is also the head coach of WNBL team Glutagence Glow Boosters.
With the workload he has, Tan has tapped two decorated coaches as his assistants in Joe Silva and Anton Brodett.
Though coming from rival programs just four years ago, Silva and Brodett became close during their brief stint at University of the East back in UAAP Season 81. The two would go on to be part of the San Beda Red Cubs’ coaching staff as well.
“Siyempre excited ako because they are known to be winning coaches. They can instill a winning culture in our team. Our players came from UAAP and NCAA schools so malaki ang magagawa nila sa team,” Tan said.
Silva and Brodett were present during Mindoro’s open tryouts last weekend held in Pola, Oriental Mindoro — the town of Tamaraws owner Mayor Jennifer Cruz.
Eighty aspirants joined the tryouts which had NBL head of basketball operations Edward Aquino implement the health protocols. It also had Games and Amusements Board’s Daniel Badajos, Weldon Renion, and Alex Santiago supervise the event.
The final lineup of both Tamaraws teams will be revealed in a couple of weeks.
“Talagang dinayo kasi there were players from Cavite and Occidental who joined the tryouts. Madaming aspiring players here,” said Tan.
“We are glad to be able to showcase them. Usually, naglalaban lang sila sa inter-town. Ngayon magkakasama na sila. The challenge for us is to mesh all of their talents.”
