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    Marikina Shoemasters re-sign Yves Sazon, Von Tambeling, Ato Ular

    Marikina trusts the process with re-signing of Yves Sazon, Von Tambeling, Ato Ular
    Apr 14, 2020
    PHOTO: MPBL

    MARIKINA is putting its faith on continuity as it retained its core for the next season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

    Leading scorers Yves Sazon and Von Tambeling, as well as double-double machine Ato Ular will be back for the Shoemasters in the fourth season of the regional league.

    The homegrown Sazon was the league's third-best scorer with 17.9 points, including 15 20-point games this past Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Cup. He became the second player to reach the MPBL's 1,000-points club.

    He also posted 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals to carry the load for Marikina.

    Tambeling, meanwhile, netted 8.6 points and 4.1 boards this past year.

    The former PCU standout tested his luck in the PBA and was picked by San Miguel in the fifth round, the last selection in the 2019 Rookie Draft. He, however, was left unsigned.

    Ular, on the other hand, is coming off a stellar run for NCAA champions Letran and made immediate impact in the nine games he suited up for the Shoemasters, notching 21.8 points and 16.0 rebounds per game.

    The 6-foot-4 banger was later on selected to be the team's representative to the Lakan Cup All-Star Game.

    "Ang target ko naman talaga is to keep almost everybody from last season and add kung sino kulang namin. Yung last season namin naging parang developmental season para sa amin,” said coach Elvis Tolentino.

    It was a forgettable campaign for Marikina, finishing at 13th place in the North Division with its 8-22 record.

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    Tolentino hopes that those growing pains will bear fruit this year as he expects his players to have gained the necessary experience to once again contend with the best of the league.

    "Last season, for me, failed kasi di naman tayo sasali dito just to join we would want to be champion also but nag alisan kasi mga players ko from the previous season kaya bago ulit," he said. "Mas okay sa akin to keep them."

    Also retained from last season's campaign was Daryl Pascual, who averaged 9.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks.

    Despite keeping the holdovers, Tolentino shared that he's still on the lookout on adding a few more pieces, most notably a point guard who can provide leadership for Marikina.

    "I’m just in need of a steady point guard. Kailangan ko ng leadership ng isang point guard so sana in the coming days yun ang ma-acquire ko," he said.

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