MANILA, Philippines — Sa kanilang 1-0 slate, malakas ang tiwala ng Basilan Steel sa magandang kampanya sa ikatlong conference ng 2019 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
“First, we would like to win more games this conference, make the playoffs and go all the way from there,” sabi ni Basilan Steel team manager Jackson Chua sa TOPS Usapang Sports sa National Press Club.
“Second, and more importantly, we would like to showcase the beauty of Basilan and its friendly people,” dagdag ni Chua na sumandal kina Jonathan Uyloan, Dennis Daa, Gab Dagangon, Hessed Gabo, Jhaps Bautista at Chris Dumapig para pataubin ang expansion team na Bicol Volcanoes, 94-83, sa una nilang laro noong Hunyo 12.
Sinabi ni head coach Jerson Cabiltes na malaking bagay para sa Basilan Steel na mabura ang mga negatibong imahen ng probinsiya.
“There’s no better way to do it than now thru sports, basketball in particular,” pahayag ni Cabiltes.
Kapwa pinahalagahan nina Chua at Cabiltes ang tulong at suporta nina Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor at Basilan Cong. Mujiv Hataman, Mayor Julz Hataman, councilor Hegem Furigay at sportsman Jimmy de la Cruz ng Jumbo Plastics.
“Last year, the team finished second to the last in the Southern Division with a 7-18 win-loss record. We learned a lot of lessons, and we used it to form a championship-caliber team. We know we have to win to be able to achieve our goal of creating a new image for Basilan and provide a new inspiration for the people there, especially the youth,” wika ni Cabiltes, tinukoy ang Davao Occidental, Zamboanga, Batangas, Bacoor at General Santos bilang mga karibal.