Finally, Metro Manila will have a representation in the Pilipinas Super League this July.
A Pasig City youth basketball team was formally welcomed by the fledgling regional tilt in the 21-Under division of the league named as Pambansang Liga ng mga Pilipino.
The Pasig City Cocolife Pirates made an official entry to the PSL 21-Under through a Memorandum of Agreement during the recent signing between the league, city government and team sponsor Cocolife at the Pasig City Hall.
PSL President Rocky Chan, Cocolife President Atty. Jose Martin Loon and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto jointly penned the MoA, witnessed by PSL Vice President Ray Alao, league official Leo Isaac, Cocolife SVP Joseph Ronquillo, basketball operations head Aries Conde, VP Rowena Asnan and EVP Franz Joie Araque.
“On behalf of our CEO, Mayor Dinko Bautista, we would like to thank the honorable mayor of Pasig, Mayor Vico Sotto, for taking part and being part of the Pilipinas Super League family, and to President Martin Loon of Cocolife na walang sawang sumusuporta, not only to the team that is participating in the Pilipinas Super League but to the league itself,” Chan said.
Sotto for his part said: “We’re very thankful and excited to have this partnership between the local government of Pasig and Cocolife.”
On the other hand, Loon believes the partnership between the Pirates and Cocolife will lead to greater things ahead.
“We appreciate this. Thank you for making this partnership possible. It’s an honor for Cocolife to be given the chance to partner with Pasig and Mayor Vico, and we look for greater things,” Loon said. “Ang dami naman nating puwedeng maging common advocacies and projects together at abangan natin ang susunod kung ano pa iyong puwede nating gawin para palaguin ang pagsasamang ito na simula ng napakarami pang opportunities and possibilities.”
He added that Cocolife has someting in common with Sotto that made forging the partnership easier such as Mayor Vico’s advocacy of good governance and the private sectors’ commitment in the advocacy.
“We’re very grateful to Pasig and PSL for this opportunity to work together for basketball and the development of Filipino youth. Cocolife has always been a consistent partner to the youth and their future, especially through sports,” Loon added.
Meanwhile, Sotto hopes that the Pirates will get huge support from his fellow Pasigueños as they play in the Luzon leg of the PSL 21-U, which will kick off on July 9 in Pampanga.