MANILA – Four members of the Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix secondary boys basketball team have decided to continue their high school basketball careers with Nazareth School of National University Bullpups.
Thomas Pillado, Ricky Murillo, Matt Laurence Acosta and Roy Malaga have all committed to join the Bullpups, which is aiming to bounce back from a runner up finish last UAAP Season 85 boys basketball tournament earlier this year.
Negrense Pillado and Aklanon Murillo both are playing the guard position, while Pototan, Iloilo-natives Acosta and Malaga are both wingers, according to Red Phoenix head coach Vincent Conlu.
“I am personally happy and proud that they will now reach their dreams of playing in Manila with NU,” Conlu told Panay News on Tuesday. “Their hard work in our daily practices has paid off.”
The Red Phoenix mentor added that NU has invited the four players to come over to Manila for a tryout a few months ago before they formalized their commitment with the Bullpups on Monday afternoon.
“They (the Bullpups) invited the four here in Manila and they joined the NU players sa training. (NU Bulldogs head) coach Jeff (Napa) were impressed by them so pinacommit na agad,” Conlu said.
“We only returned to NU (on Monday) to formalize everything kasi may nilaruan din kaming National PRISAA and also ‘yung pre-Palarong Pambansa qualifying tournament,” he added.
Conlu, who was also a former varsity player for Far Eastern University Tamaraws in UAAP before, said the four players have two years of high school eligibility before possibly moving up to the NU Bulldogs.
“Pwede pa sila for two years sa high school and I think ‘yun ang plano ng NU sa kanila. It is also an opportunity for them to improve further and be ready for college,” Conlu said.
Pillado, Murillo, Acosta and Malaga will have their last hurrah with the Red Phoenix when they represent Western Visayas in the 2023 Palarong Panbansa this July in Marikina City./PN
