PREPARATIONS are underway by the Zamboanga Valientes as they are scheduled to face against the Manila Stars on October 27 in Zamboanga City in the ongoing season of the Maharlika Philippine Basketball League (MPBL).

Rolando Navarro, Jr., Zamboanga Valiente team owner, on Friday, October 19, said in an interview they have started practicing the past few days as all of the team players have already arrived here.

“We have to practice well and strive hard to win against the Manila Star as we will be playing in our homecourt,” Navarro said.

“The pressure is us since we are playing in our hometown,” Navarro added.

He said the Zamboanga Valientes team is strengthening its man power to be at par with the other teams playing in the MPBL.

He added they have recently acquired RR De Leon, a Zamboangueño playing with the EU Red Warriors.

The October 27 Zamboanga Valientes-Manila Star games is dubbed as “Encuentro na Zamboanga (Encounter in Zamboanga).”

The Manila Star is described as a strong team with 9-2 win-loss card and is second in the North Division standing.

The Zamboanga Valientes has a 5-5 win-loss card and is tied at the fifth place with Imus Bandera in the South Division of MPBL.

Both the North and South Divisions of MPBL have 13 participating teams.

The Zamboanga Valientes is supported by the Family’s Brand Sardines, which is one of the canning firms based in this city. (SunStar Philippines)