THERE’S hope for PBA players who bounce in and out of the PBA.
For players like Ronjay Buenafe, Sunday Salvacion, Chito Jaime, Bonbon Custodio, Mac Andaya and Al Vergara, Hobe Macway, one of the teams competing in the Marikina City Basketball League, is a sanctuary for ex-pros looking for a right opportunity to prove their worth that they can still be an asset.
Team owner Bobby Co wants to give these ex-pros a home where they could shine and perform.
One of the players vying for a spot with the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA, Buenafe is using the MCBL as a way to sharpen up.
“Right now, the important thing is makundisyon ako. Wala pang desisyon kung makakalaro ako sa NLEX sa PBA, pero kailangan nasa kundisyo ako para ready ako kung tatawagin ako ng NLEX,” said Buenafe, who won a championship while playing for Yeng Guiao with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
For Buenafe, playing in the MCBL is a good way to keep him on top of his game as he’s facing ex-PBA players, top amateur players and collegiate standouts, including imports.
“The quality of competition is high. This is one way of keeping me sharp and on top of my game. We have the top amateur players competing, we also have imports here,” he added. “This is a good league because you’re going to learn a lot.”
Jaime is another old player of Guiao and after his last stint with Kia, he found himself as a free agent again.
“Sana mabigyan pa ng tsansa. Iba pa rin ang buhay sa PBA,” added Jaime.
For Salvacion, Vergara and Andaya, playing for Hobe Macway in the MCBL is not only a sanctuary for ex-PBA players. It also provides the most important thing – food for the family.
“Kailangan nating maghanapbuhay,” said Salvacion, who last played for Mighty Sports, which won the championship in the William Jones Cup last year. He made his return to the PBA with GlobalPort, but was cut short by an injury.
“‘Yung injury ko kasi dati pa. Hindi na kaya nung katawan ko yung everyday training kaya OK sa akin itong Hobe Macway sa MCBL. Naglalaro-laro pa rin naman ako sa mga invitational tournaments sa mga probinsiya,” added Salvacion.
Vergara, a point guard who played briefly in the PBA before strutting his wares with the Singapore Slingers in the NBL in Australia, is thankful that he’s still being given a chance to play.
“I’m thankful to be given an opportunity playing for Hobe Macway in the MCBL. If you’ll look closely, the MCBL is like the ABL as you have imports playing at the same time,” added Vergara.
Andaya, the 6’9” big man who played for Barako Bull, Rain or Shine and Air21 among others, had already embarked a career in showbiz, but still goes back to the game he loves the most.
In the MCBL, Andaya, who plays the role as Pido, leader of the Tamawo in the prime time show Super Ma’am, is a fan favorite.