CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Carlo Lastimosa, Jio Jalalon and Glenn Khobuntin learned the rudiments of the game in sandlot courts in this northern Mindanao frontier.
Now all polished players playing in the country’s premier cage league, the three make a homecoming as part of the PBA Mindanao All Stars testing the mettle of Gilas Pilipinas in the kickoff of the three-leg 2017 PBA All-Star series at the Xavier University Gym here today.
Lastimosa, Jalalon and Khobuntin are all eager to make a show for their fellow CDO folks in this event sponsored by HMR Trading, Mueller, Peak, Crystal Clear, Anako, Davco, Smart, Buffalo Resto Grill, Cloudfone and Petron.
They are also well aware they’re expected to put the toughest challenge they can to help push Gilas in its buildup for the SEABA Championship on May 12-18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Skills wise, kayang tumapat ng team dahil pare-pareho namang PBA players ‘yan. Kaya lang may June Mar Fajardo sila and they’ve been training together. We’re just about to gather for a practice,” said PBA Mindanao All Stars coach Chito Victolero.
Sponsored content: The other players at Victolero’s disposal are Cyrus Baguio, Mark Barroca, Scottie Thompson, PJ Simon, Rafi Reavis, Sonny Thoss, Baser Amer, Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario.
They’re going up against a Gilas side composed of Fajardo, Terrence Romeo, LA Revilla, Mike Tolomia, RR Pogoy, Matthew Wright, Kevin Ferrer, Carl Bryan Cruz, Alfonso Gotladera and Bradwyn Guinto.
They clash at 7:30 p.m. after the Shooting Stars event featuring Khobuntin, Jalalon and Baguio, a native of the nearby Iligan City.
The PBA delegation arrived here Tuesday and the PBA stars drew mammoth crowds in their initial appearances in the city which is the northern Mindanao gateway to Bukidnon, Misamis and Lanao provinces.
Lastimosa, Jalalon, Khobuntin and Baguio are familiar faces for the CDO basketball fans as they played high school ball here before being recruited to play in Manila.
Sponsored content: Lastimosa suited up with Xavier U, Jalalon for Sacred Heart while Khobuntin with the Cagayan de Oro College. Baguio donned the MSU-ITI team from Iligan that also competed in CDO competitions.
