STARHORSE Basilan team owner Jackson Chua has a strong belief that the organization has the materials to put up a competitive team if and when its bid to acquire the PBA franchise of Terrafirma is consummated.
Chua, who is also the man behind Basilan's comeback in the MPBL, said there is enough talent in the Dyip's current lineup to build on, regardless of the many controversial trades that the perennial cellar-dwellers made over the years.
READ Starhorse Basilan owner vows 'we won't be anyone's farm team'
Aside from that, the Dyip's first-round draft picks for next season and beyond are intact, meaning a potential new owner can expect to have a steady stream of prized rookies coming in if managed properly.
“Siguro naman, mga tamang movement and then alaga sa mga [rookie draft] picks na makukuha namin, kahit siguro sa first two years namin kaya na namin palakasin yun,” Chua told SPIN.ph.
Chua is also under the belief that there are a lot of players in and out of the PBA who are talented enough to shine if given the opportunity.
The Phenom Sports Wear brand president mentioned the likes of Juami Tiongson, Sidney Onwubere and Jhonard Clarito as his inspiration to get diamonds in the rough from present pool of what he described as ‘underutilized players’.
"Ang daming talent ng PBA, may ibang players dyan hindi lang nagamit sa team nila pero 'pag nabigyan ng break, nagpe-perform," said Chua. "'Yun ang trabaho na dapat naming gawin, if matuloy yung sale."
Chua need not look far
Chua can start looking right in his own backyard, saying players from his own Starhorse Basilan team in the MPBL stand to be given opportunities in the PBA if they perform well enough in the newly-opened season of the regional league.
Chua has around seven former PBA players in his line-up in Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Jervy Cruz, Jeff Viernes, Clint Dolinguez and Sherwin Concepcion and two former PBA 3x3 players in Rey Publico and Reymar Caduyac.
“I am very particular when it comes to forming a competitive basketball team, yan ang passion ko eh," he said.
"Nakita nyo naman sa MPBL dati, kung di lang kami naapektuhan nung Covid-19 protocols at di kami na-default, we could have walked away with the championship,” he added
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