By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Former PBA cagers Nico Paolo Javelona and Jason Melano are set to banner Negros Muscovados in its return to the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) this year.

The Bacolod City-native Javelona and Cebu’s Tabuelan-native Melano were among the Muscovados players unveiled during a press conference at Red House Taiwan in Bacolod on Wednesday, January 18.

The 30-year-old Javelona made his way back to the MPBL with the Muscovados following a brief stint with the Terrafirma Dyip in the PBA during the just-concluded Commissioner’s Cup.

The former National University Bulldogs guard has played for Bacolod Masters Sardines before in the MPBL, and also had stints with NorthPort Batang Pier in PBA 5×5 and Purefoods in PBA 3×3.

Melano also had a brief stint in the PBA with Blackwater Bossing before staying in the MPBL where he played for Batangas City Embassy Chill, San Juan Knights and Pasig City.

The Muscovados also secured the services of four former Bacolod BingoPlus players in Bacolodnon Randy Colonia, Cebuano Edrian Lao, Richard Albo, and Mark Maloles.

The Negros Occidental-based squad added two more first-time MPBL players in Bacolodnon Jose Piero Dominic Longa, formerly of the University of the Philippines, and Cebu’s Liloan-native Lugie Cuyos.

Holdovers from the previous Muscovados team were Sagay City-native Ritcer Santillan, Cadiz City-native Bill Geolingo and Negros Oriental’s Canlaon City-native Jonathan Gantalao, Jr.

The Muscovados prepared for their comeback season in the MPBL by conducting tryouts at the Silvergraces Gymnasium in Bacolod City earlier this week.

The Muscovados had a forgetful MPBL debut during the 2021 Invitational conference where they dropped all of their five matches in their group./ASC, WDJ