Ilonggo Sumido banners United Royals in MPBL
Ilonggo forward Jhon Rey Sumido banners the initial list of Iloilo United Royals-Cocolife players in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) return this 2023 season.
Sumido, a native of Iloilo province’s Zarraga town, will be among the two homegrown players of the United Royals so far in their roster, aside from Iloilo’s Lambunao-native center Omar Larupay, who is set to sign in the coming days.
Also formalizing their contract with the United Royals were former UAAP standouts Jerie Pingoy of Adamson University Falcons and Ralf Olivarez of University of the
East Red
Arambulo
Mabayo.
Others who are set to join the Iloilo roster in the coming days were Marvin Lee, formerly of University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, Jason Strait and Justine Sanchez.
United Royals team manager Jay Javelosa told
Warriors, Ryan and Ramon
Watchmen Daily Journal
that the five players signed their contracts with the team yesterday while they are still in talks with some players to complete their lineup.
Former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons Brix Ramos, AJ Madrigal and Conrad Catapusan opted to sign elsewhere after being previously linked to the United Royals.
“So far, we have five sure players for our team, but we are finalizing the contract details of our other players,” Javelosa said.
“We will definitely have a competitive team on our MPBL return,” he added.
Manu Inigo, the former mentor of the San Beda University high school boys’ basketball team, will serve as the new head coach of the United Royals, replacing Eric Gonzales, who is now with the Quezon province team.
The United Royals last played in the league during the 2021 MPBL Invitational bubble tournament where they were defeated by the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the quarterfinals round.
The Royals will be the third Western Visayasbased team in the upcoming MPBL season, aside from the returning Negros Muscovados and the rebranded Bacolod City squad./ASC,