PETER Alfaro, team captain of the last San Beda team to win an NCAA basketball championshp, has joined his hometown ballclub that will compete in a new Asian tournament to be launched next month, hoping it will be his path to stardom in the PBA.
Alfaro announced he is playing for the Zamboanga Valientes in the maiden season of the newly-founded The Asian Tournament which will feature eight teams from neighboring countries.
Alfaro, whose father, Pedro, played in the PBA and is now an official of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), said he had to make a choice between playing with an overseas team or a local squad. He decided that a stint with the Valientes will better prepare him for his basketball journey.
“May offer po ako sa Malaysia, kaso sabi ko mag-prepare na lang muna ako sa PBA. Dun ko po kasi talaga dream maglaro,” said the 5’11 shooting guard, who also had a stint with TNT in the PBA on Tour preseason tournament.
Alfaro also revealed he received offers to play in the MPBL, but since the PBA is his initial target, he opted to take the Zamboanga offer which he feels can better prepare him for the pro league.
“Sa tingin ko po kasi mas maganda if I take the Zamboanga offer kasi po mga international teams ang kalaban,” he said.
“Naniniwala ako na if I play sa isang Asian level tournament, mas mahahasa ako and at the same time mas mabilis ako makakapag increase na stock ko sa draft,” added the 25-year-old sentinel.
READ Player 'missing' from PBA archives leaves lasting legacy
More than anything else, Alfaro wanted to give back to his kababayans in Zamboanga by representing them before he commits to other teams.
“Gusto ko po kasi ma-represent din ang bayan naming bago ako maglaro ng sa ibang liga. Iba pa rin po kasi yung suklian mo yung naging suporta ng mga kababayan mo sayo,” he said.
Regarding his PBA plans, Alfaro said he hopes the Asian Tournament will show the kind of player that he is, make it a kind of audition as he eyes the local play-for-pay league.
“PBA na po yan eh. Pero syempre, kaya nga po pinili ko itong Asian Tournament, I can play against tougher opponents. That way, mas makita sana ng mga PBA teams yung value ko as a court leader. Yun naman po ang upside ko kahit sa San Beda,” said the member of the 2016 Seaba Under-18 champion team.
Valientes lineup
Alfaro will be joined in the Valientes by fellow Zamboanguenos Michael Tolomia, Rudy Lingganay, Denver Cadiz and Das Esa and former 3x3 star Franky Johnson.
The reinforcement will be former UP Malick Diouf.
In another development, Junie Navarro, the team owner, said that he is negotiating with former Rain or Shine Jones Cup import Nick Evans to join them.
The Asian Tournament is eyed as replacement for the shelved Asean Basketball League . It will have eight teams and will start on April 19 in Fushian, China.
Aside from Valientes also competing are Macau Black Bears, Vanta Black Dragons (Hong Kong), Taiwan and Borneo Kings.
The league will announce three other teams soon.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
