THE Cagayan de Oro Rafters has joined the list of contenders that will be vying for the inaugural title of the first professional basketball league in the south: Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup.
Team owner Mogs Gonzales and Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup’s chief operating officer Rocky Chan formalized the team’s entry into the league with the contract signing held on Feb. 25.
Aside from former PBA MVP Jayjay Helterbrand, the Rafters will also have the services of several former PBA players in Mac Baracael, Marvin Hayes, Jason Ballesteros, JR Cawaling and Carlos Lastimosa as well as former University of Southern Philippines Panther wingman Brylle Meca.
The Rafters are expected to be a force to be reckoned with in the Mindanao division as it vies against the likes of the Zamboanga Valientes, the Pagadian Explorers, the Roxas Vanguards and Sindangan.
The Visayas division, meanwhile, already has KCS-Mandaue, ARQ-Lapu-Lapu City Heroes, XUR Homes Realty-Eastern Samar, MJAS Zenith Talisay City Aquastars and Danao City.
The league will tip off with the Visayas leg on April 9 in the town of Alcantara, Cebu.