ROXAS in Zamboanga del Norte tapped one of its proud sons—Eddie Laure—to be the head coach of the Vanguards for the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup-Mindanao Leg.
For the 43-year-old Laure, it was a no-brainer for him to grab the job—he was born and raised in Dipolog City and team owner Mayor Jan Hendrik Vallecer is his childhood friend.
“First and foremost, I am from here. And second, me and Mayor Vallecer are friends,” said Laure, who played pro basketball from 1998 to 2016.
“Of course I want it here while there’s the pandemic. I didn’t think twice when the job was offered to me,” Laure said.
This will be Laure’s first head coaching job following stints as assistant coach at University of Santo Tomas, University of the East, Jose Rizal University and Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League team Laguna.
Laure got two veterans to serve as anchors of the team—6-foot-4 bruiser Chito Jaime and 6-foot-3 Leo Najorda.
“Najorda will be a big factor and Jaime is respected by the young players,” said the 43-year-old former Metropolitan Basketball Associatoon Most Valuable Player.
Scoring guard JK Casino was tasked to lead the Vanguards’ backcourt.
Also in the team are Arellano University transferee Jordan Sta. Ana, Lester Reyes, Jordan Intic, Joshua Templo, Marr Rifarial, RJ Deles, James Castro, Francis Camacho,and Roy Velasco.
Completing the squad is 6-foot-8 Filipino-Libyan Seraj Elmejrab, who played for the Laguna Pistons in the National Basketball League-Pilipinas.
Laure tapped Edsel Vallena, Crisalde Reliza, Anthony Lopez, Garry Dulanas, Bert Tacorda and Jhon Marmeto as his assistants.
Vallecer set lofty goals for his team, saying that he wants the Vanguards to compete in the finals. But for Laure, he is taking it one step at a time.
League officials, meanwhile, are still finalizing the venue for the Mindanao Leg, which is expected to open on June 12 at the earliest.
Image courtesy of Mags Reyes