By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Another team is set to dazzle the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup-Mindanao Leg.
Announcing their participation in the Mindanao leg are the Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte Vanguards to be coached by former PBA player Eddie Laure who is a proud homegrown of the team.
“Unang-una kasi is taga dito ako. Pangalawa, ‘yung team owner namin, magkaibigan kami. Siyempre, gusto ko din dito muna mag-stay habang pandemic tapos na-timing na nagbuo siya ng team. Ako ‘yung tinawagan niya at hindi na ‘ko nagdalawang-isip na kunin ‘yun,” said Laure.
This will be Laure’s first head coaching stint in his basketball career but served as an assistant at University of Santo Tomas, University of the East, Jose Rizal University, and MPBL team Laguna.
Backstopping the Laure-orchestrated squad are big-time veterans and also former PBA gunners in Chito Jaime and Leo Najorda.
Both Jaime and Najorda became MPBL staples after their careers in the PBA ended and still proved to be valuable contributors to their teams.
Completing the Roxas Vanguards roster are JK Casino, Jordan Sta. Ana, Lester Reyes, Jordan Intic, Joshua Templo, Marr Rifarial, RJ Deles, James Castro, Francis Camacho, Roy Velasco, and Fil-Libyan Seraj Elmejrab.
“Yung team namin, kailangan sama-sama talaga, depensa muna bago ang opensa. Yung team namin lalaban ng palitan ng muka. Yan yung pinaghahandaan namin dahil malalim ‘yung field,” added Laure.
