By Adrian Stewart Co

Ilonggo Juan Paolo Taha and Bacolodnon Luis Alfonso Revilla were given fresh contract extensions by the NorthPort Batang Pier ahead of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup slated to begin on April 9.

Batang Pier team manager Bonnie Tan confirmed on Wednesday the new one-year extensions given to Taha and Revilla with the financial details not disclosed.

San Miguel, Iloilo-native Taha is entering his fourth year with the Batang Pier franchise after being traded from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, where he won his first PBA championship.

The 30-year-old Taha, a former standout of College of St. Benilde Blazers, was solid for Batang Pier in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup with averages of 8.91 points, 2.36 rebounds, and 1.09 assists.

The Bacolod City-native Revilla, on the other hand, is entering his second year with NorthPort after being traded from Phoenix Fuel Masters. He averaged 2.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists last season.

Aside from the two, the Batang Pier has also come to terms with veterans Jervy Cruz, Juan Nicholas Elorde, Jonathan Gray, Sidney Onwubere, and sophomore guard Renzo Subido.

Cruz, a former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers standout, posted averages of 6.2 points and 5.5 rebounds, including a 15-point, 17-rebound double-double in their 80-73 loss to Meralco Bolts in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup.

Elorde, on the other hand, normed 5.27 points and 2.64 assists per outing last season, while Subido had solid numbers for a rookie guard with 6.1 points and 2.2 assists per game.

Onwubere, who was acquired by the Batang Pier from Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last month, had averages of 5.75 points and 3.42 rebounds despite getting to play just 15.5 minutes per game for his former team.

Grey, for his part, did not suit up for the Batang Pier during the bubble tournament last year due to an injury he sustained during the 2019 PBA season./ASC, WDJ