BACOLOD City – Former PBA cagers Nico Paolo Javelona and Jason Melano are set to banner Negros Muscovados in its return to the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) this year.
The Bacolod City native Javelona and Tabuelan, Cebu native Melano were among the Muscovados players unveiled during a press conference on Wednesday at Red House Taiwan here.
The 30-year-old Javelona made his way back to the MPBL with the Muscovados following a brief stint with the Terrafirma Dyip in the PBA during the just-concluded Commissioner’s Cup.
The former National University Bulldogs guard had played for Bacolod Masters Sardines before in the MPBL and also had stints with NorthPort Batang Pier in PBA 5×5 and Purefoods in PBA 3×3.
Melano also had a brief stint in the PBA with Blackwater Bossing before staying in the MPBL where he played for Batangas City Embassy Chill, San Juan Knights and Pasig City.
The Muscovados also secured the services of four former Bacolod BingoPlus players in Bacolod City-native Randy Colonia, Cebuano Edrian Lao, Richard Albo and Mark Maloles.
The Negros Occidental-based squad added two more first-time MPBL players in Bacolodnon Jose Piero Dominic Longa, formerly of University of the Philippines, and Liloan, Cebu-native Lugie Cuyos.
Holdovers from the previous Muscovados team were Saga City-native Ritcer Santillan, Cadiz City-native Bill Geolingo and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental-native Jonathan Gantalao Jr.
The Muscovados prepared for their comeback season in the MPBL by conducting tryouts at the Silvergraces Gymnasium in Bacolod City earlier this week.
The Muscovados had a forgetful MPBL debut during the 2021 Invitational conference where they dropped all of their five matches in their group./PN
