By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Mark Nonoy is set to begin his professional basketball career with the Iloilo United Royals in the upcoming Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) season.

The former De La Salle University Green Archers guard formalized his move to the City of Love after signing his deal in the presence of Iloilo United Royals CEO JJ Javelosa and playing team manager Jay Javelosa.

Nonoy has opted to join the United Royals despite receiving offers from several MPBL squads, including reigning champion Pampanga Giant Lanterns and the San Juan Go for Gold Knights.

“It’s official! Excited to play for the Iloilo United Royals in the upcoming MPBL season. Another chapter unlocked! To God be the glory,” Nonoy wrote in a social media post moments after the contract signing.

Despite hailing from Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City, Nonoy’s classification as a homegrown player for Iloilo is due to his high school years spent with the Hua Siong College’s Iloilo Red Phoenix.

Nonoy, a former UAAP Rookie of the Year awardee, was an integral piece to the Green Archers’ championship conquest in Season 86, averaging 8.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

With the United Royals, Nonoy is poised to reunite with his former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers teammate Crispin John “CJ” Cansino, who joined the squad two weeks ago.

Nonoy and Cansino will join the returning United Royals players with Conrad Catapusan, Omar Larupay, Aaron Jeruta, Shaquille Imperial, JR Ongteco, and other new recruits Jason Credo and RV Berjay for the upcoming MPBL season.

Aside from the players, the United Royals have also recently renewed the head coaching contract of MC Abolucion, a relative of Nonoy’s Red Phoenix head coach Vincent Conlu.

The United Royals aim to bounce back from their Southern Division quarterfinals exit last season, where they were defeated by the Bacoor City Strikers in three games./ASC, WDJ