AFTER flying their banners in various commercial and regional leagues, the Zamboanga Valientes finally bring their stuff to the Philippine Basketball Association via the pilot PBA 3x3 that fires off Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
One-time PBA Best Player of the Conference awardee Macmac Cardona banners the Zamboanga Valientes who are out to prove that they belong.
Kyle Neypes, JR Cawaling and Gino Jumao-as are also in the cast of the squad which is determined to make a mark bigger than what they have carved out in the minors.
Established in 2006 initially to give a platform for Zamboanga basketball players, the Zamboanga Valientes team has bounced around several 5-on-5 leagues including the National Basketball Conference, Liga Pilipinas, MPBL and the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup.
And the Valientes have had their stints in the 3x3 circuit, even winning a crown in an event in Canberra, Australia in 2020.
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Now they have a chance to prove their worth in PBA 3x3 where they will be tested by 10 PBA teams and two other non-PBA regulars.
Cardona hopes to make the most of his opportunity in his PBA comeback as the leader of the Zamboanga Valientes. The Air21 rookie draftee in 2005 has been out of the PBA since he last played for GlobalPort in 2017.
"I'm happy for this opportunity to be back in the PBA even though it's just 3x3," said Cardona.
Cardona and his teammates will go up against the TNT Tropang Giga, the Limitless Appmasters, the Purefoods TJ Titans and the Platinum Karaoke team in Group A, needing to make the Top Three to advance to the knockout stage. (SB)
