Tribu Sugbu confirms NBC return; Arthro/Skygo to banner Cebu squad

It's definite. Tribu Sugbu will return to the National Basketball Conference (NBC) fold under the banner of Arthro-Skygo.

The deal was formalized through the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between co-team owners Lito "Sirlitz" Gillamac, Jr. (Skygo) and Jerry Guardo (Arthro) and NBC secretary-general Tito Palma the other day at the City Sports Club-Cebu.

Witnessing the MOA signing were Tribu Sugbu coach Al Solis and Mel Capparos, a representative of Athletes for Christ in Excellent Service (ACES) where some of Tribu Sugbu players are members.

Arthro, a new product endorsed by the Guardo family which also owns Osaka Iridology, is a food supplement.

About the team's composition, Solis said Tribu Sugbu is ready and very competitive although he is still scouting for at least two legitimate centers.

Solis is eyeing the services of former PCU Dolphin Joel Solis and 6-foot-9 behemoth Don Yabut, who previously played with the FEU Tamaraws, to complete their roster.

Solis said it is not difficult to convince Yabut as the latter had already played for Tribu Sugbu when they won two NBC pre-season games in December last year in Antipolo and last January in Valencia, Bukidnon.

Solis said the official lineup will be known on or before the September 2 final meeting in Manila where Guardo and Solis are invited to join.

The league's season-ending conference, which will be known as the NBC National Cup, is set to kick off on September 9 in North Cotabato.

Aside from Tribu Sugbu, the other teams joining the NBC cage wars are Iloilo, Pagadian, Iligan, Valencia, North Cotabato and two-time champion Ozamiz Cotta in the Southern Conference and San Juan-Bacchus, Batang Tagaytay, Forward Taguig and Pangasinan 100 Islands in the Northern bracket.