Rejigged Quezon City Black Bulls ready to make mark in MPBL

Sporting “Black Bulls” under new team owner JC Tan and new head coach Jayv Olea, QC vows to give the fancied contenders a run for their own money with a young squad composed of city homegrown and grassroots products.

Quezon City Black Bulls

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City will parade a souped-up squad with a new moniker for the much-awaited 8th Season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League this Friday at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

“We’re still a new team but we’ll make a name for ourselves in the MPBL. We are focused on developing our young core. They will be the face of QC and they have stories to tell,” said Tan during the team launch on Monday at the Kuya’s QC in Mother Ignacia.

“We’ll compete at the highest level. ‘Iyon ang mapapangako namin sa mga taga-QC at fans ng MPBL,” added Olea, whose squad will be bannered by returning pro Rey Publico.

Publico, who last played for Basilan last season, is coming off a one-year hiatus due to an ACL injury.

“Syempre, sobrang happy na nakabalik. It’s been a year. Medyo off pa ‘yung timing at nangangapa pa pero sa tulong nila coach at ng teammates ko, unti-unting nakakabalik. I will try to lead by example,” said the former NCAA champion from Letran, who played for Alaska and Blackwater in the PBA.

This time around, the former second-round PBA draftee will have plenty of help from a mixture of seasoned pros, collegiate stalwarts and QC homegrown players led by inter-barangay MVP and now MPBL rising star Pat Buena.

Buena, a product of Gardner College, was among the gems found by the Black Bulls during the QC inter-barangay leagues and tryouts by Rep. Arjo Atayde (1st District, Quezon City), who also helped in the foundation of the rejigged MPBL squad.

Along with other young guns MJ Joson, Kenz Diokno, Joeben Loria, Ryan Arceo, Jake Agoncillo, Gab Salazar, Ryan Arceo Nonon Lastra, Buena steered QC to a commendable 4-4 slate in the MPBL pre-season.

The youthful Black Bulls best the veteran MPBL teams in Bataan, 80-79; Batangas, 70-69; Sarangani, 78-74; and Bacolod, 77-66.

QC also ruled invitational tournaments in Japan and Indonesia as part of its build-up in the 27-team MPBL cast led by reigning champion and the team’s co-North Division squad Abra Solid North Weavers.

And that should be enough sign for what’s in store for QC, especially with help from veterans Jeff Morillo (playing assistant coach), Ryan Costelo, Clark Derige, Aldave Canoy and Jay Gadon along with collegiate stalwarrts Kobe Monje, Aeron Marvin Bagunu, Kai Espinosa, Joe Benzon Joven, Bryan Rosalin, Charles Dela Cruz, Josh Roque and Ammar Cosari.

“Kung hanggang saan ‘yung kaya naming maabot. We’re more focused on developing the players’ character and the identity of our team. We need to stay humble and hungry. We need to keep the passion of our players burning and that’s including respect to everyone. ‘Yun ang maaasahan ng fans ng QC,” added Tan.

“We’ll take it one game at a time. Kumbaga, bagong team kami at kailangang may mapatunayan. Pero nothing to lose kai every game kaya magco-compete kami at the highest level,” vowed Olea, whose wards are in the thick of training in Ramon Magsaysay.

QC, then parading Galeries Taipan as moniker under previous management, finished at 12th place in the North Division with a 7-22 slate.

QC’s homecourt will revolve around the city but it’s looking at the Novadeci Convention Center Sports Arena in Novaliches its permanent facility for home games.

For the opener though, QC will face a tall order on the road against the powerhouse Caloocan Batang Kankaloo under the mentorship of Jerson Cabiltes parading a squad led by former UAAP stars Kymani Ladi and Dom Escobar of Ateneo alongside Kean Baclaan of La Salle.

The match is set 7 p.m. after the duel of San Juan and Pasay while a simultaneous double-header in Biñan is slated featuring the home team Tatak Gel against the visiting GenSan at 7 p.m. after the battle between Cebu and Rizal at 5 p.m. for an electrifying four-game MPBL opener in two separate venues.

All games will be broadcast on Solar Sports as well on the Facebook page and YouTube channel of the MPBL led by founder Manny Pacquiao and new Commissioner Emmerson Oreta.