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| Paul Desiderio is one high-profile midseason signing for Cebu. MPBL (file photo) |
MANILA--From sparking the University of the Philippines' rise to its current position on top of the UAAP men's basketball division, Paul Desiderio and Jun Manzo are now tasked with beginning the massive facelift for struggling Cebu in the MPBL.
Both former Fighting Maroons have confirmed that they are back together as teammates, having already signed a contract with the Classic for the remainder of the season.
According to Desiderio, he and Manzo are saddened by what the returning franchise has become for the first half of the season.
After showing promise by stunning Caloocan in its MPBL return, Cebu struggled afterward, losing 12 of its next 15 games, including its five recent matches.
Worse, internal issues within the Classic camp led to them only fielding six players in a 65-131 loss to the Batangas City Rum Masters behind a record-setting 15 threes by Philip Paniamogan and seven in a 78-108 loss to the still undefeated Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, although Cebu put up a fight in the first half.
"Medyo nalulungkot kami sa nangyayari sa program ng basketball namin, so tumawag [si Jun noong Miyerkules]. Humingi siya ng tulong. Ayun, available naman ako, so grinab ko lang yung opportunity," said Desiderio, who played for Abra in the first half of the year.
He added that Paniamogan's historic night, which instead became a testimony of Cebu's place in MPBL infamy, factored in his decision to sign with the Classic after the Weavers let him go.
"Nababalitaan naming lahat sa social media, so yun yung isang dahilan din bakit kailangan naming tulungan yung team," Desiderio said, referring to top Cebuano sports stakeholders crying foul to the previous Classic front office on social media for mismanaging the team.
"Hindi lang nung last game. Yung mga nakaraang games pa, parang ang sama ng tingin ng mga tao. Kumbaga ang pangit tignan sa live. So napagdesisyunan namin na maglaro talaga para tulungang bumangon yung team," added Manzo.
A new management has taken over the Cebu franchise, and it began the overhaul by signing Desiderio and Manzo, among others.
It was a full-circle moment for both Desiderio and Manzo, as before, it was the former who convinced the latter to take his talents to UP.
Reuniting for the first time since their high school days at the University of the Visayas, Desiderio and Manzo fanned the flames of UP's "Atin 'To" movement, helping the team make back-to-back Final 4 appearances in the final years of the 2010s and eventually the 2018 finals.
This time, it was Manzo who helped in recruiting Desiderio to their home province team.
"Siyempre gusto naming i-angat yung basketball naming mga Cebuano," added Desiderio, who hails from Liloan, Cebu.
Both Desiderio and Manzo got to play together for the Weavers in the second half of the 2024 season.
However, during the offseason, Manzo signed with Mindoro, leaving Desiderio behind with Abra.
When both guards got their releases from their former teams earlier this month, the offer to play for Cebu as homegrown players came along.
"Ganoon naman talaga eh. Kung saan kami napupunta, lagi kaming nagkokontakan. Tulung-tulong lang kung anong kaya naming gawin," Desiderio said.
"Sobrang special especially Cebu kami nanggaling," added Manzo.
Despite the ugly start, all hope is not yet lost for the Classic as they are 2.5 games behind the Imus Braderhood for 10th place in the South Division, the last spot for the MPBL Play-In Games.
However, Desiderio said that Cebu will take things gradually if they want to make one huge postseason push.
"One game at a time lang. Hanggang may pag-asa, gagawin namin yung best namin para maka-playoffs and para maangat din yung standing namin, and syempre yung pride as a Cebuano," he further said.
If they get cleared to play, Desiderio and Manzo could make their debut with the Classic on Tuesday night, when they travel to the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando City, Pampanga to face the defending champions Pampanga Giant Lanterns.
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