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| Jvee Casio was unveiled as the first headliner of the new-look Basilan squad. Peter Baltazar |
PASIG—The Basilan franchise is returning to its old roots for the upcoming eighth season of the MPBL.
Back to being simply the Steel, Basilan is parading a new roster after last year's lineup, led by Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot, was let go.
Now leading the charge is another former PBA star, Jvee Casio.
"I'm just trying to get my mind set for the upcoming season," Casio said during the team's launch at Discovery Suites on Friday night.
Also taking his talents to Lamitan is former University of the East player Gjerard Wilson, a sixth-round pick in last year's PBA Draft, but was left unsigned by Blackwater.
"The main thing I learned from the UAAP experience was the physicality. Basketball out here is very different. It taught me something new, and I think it prepared me pretty well for this new challenge coming up, especially joining a pro team," Wilson said.
The biggest surprise, though, is that Matt David, the Steel's executive director, revealed that Eumir Marcial is set to join the pro league founded by fellow boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao by signing with them.
"Eumir is a talent of B-Steel Sports. We are under the umbrella of B-Steel Sports," David explained the shock acquisition to Dugout Philippines right after the announcement.
He added that he hopes the addition of the former Olympic bronze medalist would help the Steel draw more fans.
"Having a big name inside the team brings more people into the stadiums and watching TVs," David further said.
Marcial played some sort of pro basketball already as he was part of the Zamboanga Valientes in a 2023 mini-tournament organized by the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup.
Also joining for Basilan, according to head coach Arnold Oliveros, are veterans John Wilson, Puroy Cantimbuhan, Ryan Costelo, Robin Roño, Jayson Grimaldo, Bobby Balucanag, and Tyrone Chan.
Completing the provisional lineup are Macoy Marcos, Joshua Ramirez, Miles Cañal, Rashedin Tinggamo, and Angel Blanqueza.
David bared that the team plans to play at home by June at the soonest.
