The Zamboanga City MLV Valientes will finally experience playing for a prestigious professional homegrown league in the Philippines.
Owned by Rolando “Junnie” Navarro Jr., the Zamboanga City MLV Valientes are so excited to play in the National Basketball League after turning professional last Wednesday, with the recognition given by the Games and Amusements Board, under its chairman Abraham Mitra.
“The Valientes will always be there for Zamboangueños, win or lose. We want Zamboangueños to play, we know Zamboangueños are good players, we already proved that in National PRISAA when Zamboanga won two titles, and champions in NBA 3×3 in the country,” said Navarro.
Also supporting the team is the accounting firm MLV in Australia, owned by Michael Venezuala, the co-owner of the Valientes MLV.
“It has been a dream of every Zamboangueño basketball player to play professionally,” said Navarro, who thanks supporters MLV Accounting of Australia, Cory Navarro, Kings Manpower, Big Fundamental Basketball Academy, Ultra Pi Water-Calixto Street, Kamiseta Mindanao and Vice Cosmetics Zamboanga.
“The Valientes are the original team of Zamboanga, the only team from Mindanao and the first pro team in Zamboanga. The fans are very excited to see our team finally play in the pro league,” he added.
Navarro announced the appointment of new head coach Joseph Romarate, a proud Zamboangueño, while the players are led by former University of the East’s Gino Jumaoas from Boalan, Das “Tausug Hero” Esa from Barangay San Jose, AA Fabian and Jon Rebollos from Sta. Maria.
The Valientes also want to thank their Mayor Beng Climaco for the all-out support to the team.
The winning legacy of the late Lando Navarro, Junnie’s father, is now expected to continue and follow the tradition of an all-Zamboanga team that won in the big leagues, such as the Nike Summer League (where Zamboanga beat UAAP teams UP, UST and NU in 2007), the National Basketball Conference, the Liga Pilipinas and the PBA D-League, among others.
The NBL is the second active professional league in the country after the Philippine Basketball Association.