by Brian Yalung
As far as the reigning Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Datu Cup champion San Juan Knights and the Manila Stars are concerned, the show will go on. This is despite the change at the helm of their respective government units following the recent Philippine elections.
No less than Manila and San Juan team officials confirmed this to the Manila Bulletin, explaining that they are privately owned teams.
"Hindi naman naka affect dahil ang team namin ay privately owned," said Adoe Deron of the Manila Stars.
The same holds true for the San Juan Knights according to their head coach Randy Alcantara.
Randy Alcantara (photo by Brian Yalung) "Tingin ko naman di makaka apekto. Yung San Juan Knights private naman yun. Andyan pa din yung mga sponsors namin. Wala naman pinagbago. Regarding naman sa pagpalit ng administrasyon sa San Juan, so far wala naman kami update sa kanila. As of now, wala pa naman changes. Tuloy pa din ang San Juan Knights," he said.
Set to take over as new Mayors are Francisco "Isko" Moreno and Francis Zamora for Manila and San Juan respectively.
Asked on other changes, Deron and Alcantara revealed the addition of new names that will be joining their ballclubs.
"Madami changes sa team namin. Bago na head coach tapos more on young guns kami ngayon sa team. Like Jolo Go, Mark Dyke and Marvin Lee. We also have new ex-pros in Carlo Lastimosa and Ronnie Matias," said Deron.
As for their new head coach, he said that they are currently working on it although he mentioned the name of Ariel Vanguardia.
On the Knights' side, Alcantara mentioned a couple of names coming on board. These are Andoy Estrella and Jessie Saitanan.
"Nadagdag sa amin ay si Andoy Estrella ng QC. Kilala ko na rin yang batang yan kasi player ko na siya since high school pa and sa juniors/ seniors sa Mapua. So talagang alam ko pano siya gamitin, pano siya maglaro," Alcantara said.
"Si Jessie Saitanan is another addition sa amin na galing sa Mapua Cardinals kasi kelangan namin ng big man, he added.
He also confirmed that ex-pros Macmac Cardona, John Wilson and Larry Rodriguez will return, referring to them as the leaders for the Knights.
"Yes they are still in our roster. Sila ang mga leader namin. They are still in the team," Alcantara replied.
Fresh from being crowned MPBL champions, Manila Bulletin Sports asked if making it back-to-back was in the minds of the Knights.
"Libre naman mangarap. Pero bago mangyari yun, maraming sakripisyo, practices at maraming gagawin para mag back-to-back (champion). Kelangan lang talaga naman trabauhin especially ngayon na halos lahat ng team nagpalakas," Alcantara ended.
Randy Alcantara (photo by Brian Yalung) "Tingin ko naman di makaka apekto. Yung San Juan Knights private naman yun. Andyan pa din yung mga sponsors namin. Wala naman pinagbago. Regarding naman sa pagpalit ng administrasyon sa San Juan, so far wala naman kami update sa kanila. As of now, wala pa naman changes. Tuloy pa din ang San Juan Knights," he said.
Set to take over as new Mayors are Francisco "Isko" Moreno and Francis Zamora for Manila and San Juan respectively.
Asked on other changes, Deron and Alcantara revealed the addition of new names that will be joining their ballclubs.
"Madami changes sa team namin. Bago na head coach tapos more on young guns kami ngayon sa team. Like Jolo Go, Mark Dyke and Marvin Lee. We also have new ex-pros in Carlo Lastimosa and Ronnie Matias," said Deron.
As for their new head coach, he said that they are currently working on it although he mentioned the name of Ariel Vanguardia.
On the Knights' side, Alcantara mentioned a couple of names coming on board. These are Andoy Estrella and Jessie Saitanan.
"Nadagdag sa amin ay si Andoy Estrella ng QC. Kilala ko na rin yang batang yan kasi player ko na siya since high school pa and sa juniors/ seniors sa Mapua. So talagang alam ko pano siya gamitin, pano siya maglaro," Alcantara said.
"Si Jessie Saitanan is another addition sa amin na galing sa Mapua Cardinals kasi kelangan namin ng big man, he added.
He also confirmed that ex-pros Macmac Cardona, John Wilson and Larry Rodriguez will return, referring to them as the leaders for the Knights.
"Yes they are still in our roster. Sila ang mga leader namin. They are still in the team," Alcantara replied.
Fresh from being crowned MPBL champions, Manila Bulletin Sports asked if making it back-to-back was in the minds of the Knights.
"Libre naman mangarap. Pero bago mangyari yun, maraming sakripisyo, practices at maraming gagawin para mag back-to-back (champion). Kelangan lang talaga naman trabauhin especially ngayon na halos lahat ng team nagpalakas," Alcantara ended.