ILIGAN City’s homegrown talents will be showcased by the Archangels in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup’s Mindanao Leg.
Twelve of the 13 Archangels are natives of Iligan, according to team manager Amador Baller, who added that Mayor Celso Regencia made sure to have an all-homegrown squad so that the province’s youth will be able to relate with the team.
“Iligan is very active in sports. It’s part of our campaigns here that will encourage the youth to get into sports and not into drugs,” said Baller, who is also the sports coordinator for Lanao del Norte.
“We also have programs for the grassroots. It’s the point of Mayor Regencia to keep them away from bad vices,” Baller said.
Headlining the team is 6-foot-2 swingman Jericho Montecalvo, who at just 20 years old will be the youngest player in the competition.
Montecalvo powered Southern Philippines College of Cagayan de Oro to the Sweet 16 of the Chooks-to-Go National Basketball Training Center National Finals in 2019.
Montecalvo transferred to University of the East afterward, posting averages of 8.92 points, 5.77 rebounds and 1.23 assists during the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 juniors tournament.
The young player obtained a special guest license (SGL) from the Games and Amusements Board, thus he will no longer be eligible to play in the UAAP.
Three other guest players were tapped by the Archangels in
University of Cebu’s Kyle Ordeniza, La Salle Academy’s Algeroh Benitez and Pasig-Sta. Lucia’s Lester Tamayo are Iligan City’s other guest players.
Tamayo applied for an SGL so he can still keep his amateur status when he returns to the Realtors for the Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Mumbaki Cup.
GAB allows teams to have amateur players with SGLs for as long as it will not be more than 33-percent (1/3) of the total number of players in the team.
Moreover, all amateur players with SGL in a professional team shall not be allowed to play simultaneously in the court.
Completing the squad coached by La Salle Iligan’s Dane Lariosa are Edcor Marata, John Rabe, Roldan Piñas, Kenneth Ardiente, Dave Tagolimot, Philip Reyes, Harold Suarez, Magic Marata and Johari Andor.
Iligan has been training under a full bubble set-up at St. Michael College.
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