MANILA, Philippines — Veterans Paolo Hubalde and Val Acuña are thrilled to team up with Patrick Cabahug for MJASZenith Talisay in the forthcoming Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup.
But more than the excitement, these dribblers are just thankful to return to the court and showcase their craft nearly a year after the COVID-19 pandemic took their means of livelihood away.
The MPBL, where Hubalde and Acuña played for the Valenzuela squad, has yet to resume its postponed division finals of the Lakan Cup due to the pandemic.
MJASZenith Talisay team manager Jhon Santos, who is also the manager of Valenzuela in the MPBL, said their players eventually lost their jobs, relying mostly on allowances that continue to support them despite of the harsh times.
So when the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup was formed, MJASZenith team owners Samson and Arlene Lato with the support of Puma jumped on the chance and brought Valenzuela’s core from the MPBL to represent Talisay, Cebu in the newly-formed league.