With the start of the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup, 14 cagers from Western Visayas will see actions at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Of the total players, six came from Negros Occidental towns, four others were from Iloilo province, three from Aklan, and one from Bacolod City.
San Miguel Beermen has the greatest number of Western Visayas-based players this conference with three reinforcements – Aklanons Andreas Cahilig and Kris Rosales and Ilonggo Jericho Cruz.
NorthPort Batang Pier, on the other hand, has two in Iloilo-native Juan Paolo Taha and Iloilo City’s Paul Zamar, while Meralco Bolts also has two in Ilonggo Antonio Jose Caram and Pontevedra, Negros Occidental-native Raymar Jose.
Blackwater Bossing has two Region 6-based players in Bacolodnon Justin Chua and Silaynon Miguel Corteza, while Terrafirma Dyip has La Carlota City, Negros Occidental-native Mark Nonoy and Aklanon Keith Zaldivar.
Meanwhile, with one each are TNT Tropang Giga in Manapla, Negros Occidental’s Paul Varilla, Converge FiberXers in Hinigaran-native Jhan Nermal, and Phoenix Fuel Masters in Bago City-native Raul Soyud.
In the opening match, Converge FiberXers showed poise against the Phoenix Fuel Masters’ endgame run to score a 92-83 victory.
Leading by as many as 23 points early in the fourth quarter, the FiberXers saw their lead cut to 79-90 on a three-point play and a three-pointer from Fuel Masters’ Rodolfo Alejandro Jr.IMT Sports
