Ousted teams using break to shore up rosters for next season

The COVID-19 pandemic may have forced the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League to suspend its division playoffs, but it has not stopped eliminated teams from building up their rosters for the next season.

Nueva Ecija, Valenzuela City, Rizal, Saranggani and Caloocan have all started signing players for the next season even as reigning champion San Juan, Makati, Basilan and Davao Occidental are still in the

running for the title in the Lakan Cup.

Muntinlupa, on the other hand, announced the signing of a new coach in Louie Gonzalez, who takes over a squad that won just seven of its 30 games this season.

Gab Banal, the most valuable player of the Datu Cup last year, has joined Nueva

Ecija from the Bacoor City Strikers, who were eliminated by Basilan in the South semi­finals.

The do-it-all forward is the latest pickup in what has been a busy offseason for the Rice Vanguards, who earlier signed brothers Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño and former Blackwater guard Renz Palma.

Valenzuela retained veteran Paolo Hubalde, who will now be surrounded by several young standouts. Cebuano standouts Darrell Shane Menina and Tristan Albina were picked up by Valenzuela, joining former Adamson guard Egie Boy Mojica, forward Lord Casajeros and ex-Cebu big man Kevin Villafranca.

Valenzuela also added journeyman Patrick Cabahug. INQ