BACOLOD City has officially joined the regional basketball league or the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) in the country which will open Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
This was announced Tuesday, June 11, by Bacolod City Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya, who facilitated the entry of the Bacolod City or the Bacolod Master’s team which is composed of 22 players.
“We have been talking about this for a couple of months already. Before the campaign period, we have an initial discussion to form a team from Bacolod City to represent in MPBL,” Gasataya said.
He said the city’s team is sponsored by the Master Sardines that will be in charge of the operation of the team.
The team will be composed of players from Bacolod City and Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) players who are residents of Bacolod.
On Sunday, Gasataya also held the basketball tryout which was participated by more than 30 players. Only three players qualified who were sent to Manila for a series of practices.
MPBL is a regional semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines. It was launched by Senator Manny Pacquiao on August 29, 2017.
Pacquiao earlier said that the league is not intended to be a competitor to the PBA, the country’s top professional basketball league. The MPBL will feature both regional commercial and barangay-level league with teams on the commercial side to have a home locality in addition to a corporate sponsor.
Gasataya said Bacolod Master’s team coach will be Vic Ycasiano, and this will be a 10 months game.
He said the Bacolod Master’s team will hold their game here in Bacolod on August 22.
“Let’s support our team,” he added.