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THE return of two-time MVP Jason Castro and Jonathan
Fernandez in the Harbour Centre roster makes the team’s backcourt
rotation the most feared in the coming Philippine Basketball League
(PBL) Unity Cup.
The Batang Pier already have the
dynamic tandem of Tyrone Tang and Solomon Mercado and the inclusion
of Castro and Fernandez will definitely boost their chances of
winning a fifth straight title.
Castro and Fernandez, who powered
Harbour Centre to the title in the same conference last year, were
loaned to the RP men’s basketball team during the SEA Games. In
their absence, Tang and Mercado rose to the occasion, leading the
team to an inspiring series win.
“It’s a case of four heads
are better than two,” said Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero.
“But seriously speaking, I think with the return of Jason and
Jonathan, our backcourt has become more solid and more steady.”
Four others from the national
team are actually set to play for the Batang Pier this conference old-timers
and Harbour’s long-time brute forces Beau Belga and Chad Alonzo,
together with new acquisitions Jeff Chan and Boyet Bautista.
With a lineup already filled with
league stars in the mold of Dylan Ababou, Chester Taylor, Edwin
Asoro, Al Vergara and Jerwin Gaco, keeping the players happy is the
single daunting task that makes coach Jorge Gallent’s job a
difficult one. Other members of the team are Gilbert Malabanan and
Allan Gamboa.
Team manager Erick Arejola is
convinced Gallent can take care of the problem.
“How to jell the team is really
our concern right now. We’ve just started practicing beginning
this month,” said Gallent. “So, we had our team building last
week for the players to be at ease with each other and at the same
time, know exactly what their roles will be with the team.”
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