SINCE professional sports leagues have already been allowed to proceed with their seasons, the Damayang Filipino (DF) Bulacan Republicans team that will represent the province of Bulacan is making itself ready for the upcoming opening of one of the most anticipated leagues in the country, the National Basketball League (NBL) Season 4 on July 17, 2021.
According to Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando, team governor/owner, the hard work of every player of the DF Bulacan Republicans cannot be discounted and he ensured that their team will give a good fight in every game.
The governor said that while the Bulacan Sports Academy’s plan has not been carried out due to the pandemic, he still aims to strengthen Bulacan athletes including the re-joining of the team in the country’s new professional basketball league, the NBL.
“I want Bulakenyo players to have advanced learning and technology, but so far, when the NBL invited us, we took the opportunity to strengthen our homegrown basketball players and develop their discipline, sportsmanship and humility,” said Fernando.
Team management includes Romy Cardenas as co-owner/team governor; Team Managers Atty. Julius Victor Degala, Datsun Fulgar, Benjie Santos and Jeffrey Puertillano; Coach Paul John Macapagal, Asst. Coach Fin Arilielh Nuguit and Noel Leguin as trainer.
“Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the members of Damayang Filipino Bulacan Republicans persevered to prepare well for the tournament. Hopefully, every match of the team will see the quality and resilience of the Bulakenyo players,” said Degala.
According to Cardenas, he believes that the Bulakenyo athletes can compete in any professional and national leagues such as the NBL.
Recently, all players of the DF Bulacan Republicans including the management team have received their licenses from the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Baham Mitra and they now officially belong to the professional basketball players in the country.
The DF Bulacan Republicans consists of players Christian Necio, John Michael Cruz, John Kenneth Reyes, Joseph Ryan Celso, Ernest Efren Reyes, Jason Maglalang, Paolo Miguel Andres, Rjay Ramirez, Ryan Spencer Operio, Dominick Fajardo, Jerick Sumapong, Ronnifer Camua, Warlo James Batac and Sydney Santos.
It was learned that Bulacan was included in the 1st launching of the NBL but did not participate in the previous 2nd and 3rd seasons due to complicated reasons and is now returning to Season 4 and this time with the help and support of Gov. Fernando and his co-team owner Cardenas.
The Pampanga Delta team will be back as defending champions in the last 2020 NBL 3rd Season.
The governor clarified that the participation of the Bulacan team is not under the supervision of the provincial government but is only part of his support for the Bulacan athletes, especially to the DF Bulacan Republicans team.
The NBL was established in 2018 as a developmental league and is the world’s first professional homegrown league aimed at enhancing the talent of homegrown athletes of towns, cities or provinces.
According to Degala, other featured games will be held at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, which will be the official basketball court venue in the North.
The NBL parallels the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and Chooks-to-Go 3×3 in the list of professional leagues in the country that give players the opportunity to have exposure and not to compete with other professional leagues.