By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Three Negros Occidental-based cagers will be bannered in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, which tips off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, October 5.
Raymar Jose of the Meralco Bolts (Negros Occidental’s Pontevedra town), Mark Nonoy of the Terrafirma Dyip (Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City) and Paul Varilla of the TNT Tropang Giga (Negros Occidental’s Manapla town) will carry the colors of the Negrenses in the league’s milestone conference.
They are joined by fellow Western Visayas-based players, bringing the total to 10 from Region 6.
Four hail from Iloilo — Antonio Jose Caram (Meralco), Paul Zamar (Blackwater Bossing), Juan Paolo Taha (Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots), and Jericho Cruz (San Miguel Beermen).
Three others are from Aklan — Andreas Cahilig (San Miguel), Kris Rosales (San Miguel) and Keith Zaldivar (Terrafirma).
Meanwhile, some notable products from Negros Island Region were not included in the conference lineups, such as Bacolodnons Kib Montalbo and Justin Chua, Silaynon Miguel Corteza, Hinigaran-native Jhan Nermal, and Bago City’s Raul Soyud.
Other participating squads are the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, the Converge FiberXers, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the NLEX Road Warriors, the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, and the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
The season-opener will showcase the rivalry between Magnolia and Ginebra at the Big Dome.
Elimination round games will be held every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday./ASC, WDJ