MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte’s Talk ‘n Text-Quezon City team braces for a rare third straight title when the Jr. PBA tournament, which has been expanded to include provincial teams and two national 13-under teams, gets going tentatively this week.
The team, headed by team captain Michael Nieto, includes Matthew Nieto, Jose Lorenzo Mendoza, Dave Ildefonso, Rafa Racela, Luis Antonio Sto. Domingo, Justin Eustaquio, Rolec Matutina, Baileys Acot, Jaggy Gregorio, Clarence Cariño, Luis Subido, Dale Dy, James Roman, Marty Veloso, Drazen Fernandez, and Kean Miguel Herrera.
“Our players are younger and we know that a grand slam victory is hard to achieve, but they have trained hard and are focused on their goals,” said head coach Mark Herrera.
Herrera is also head coach for the RP Youth 13-under which is fielding two teams in the tournament which will be participated in for the first time by teams from the Luzon and Visayas as part of the grassroots development program of the PBA.
Herrera is assisted by PJ Navarro, Mark Jomalesa, Benjie Diswe and Edwin Ancheta. The team is sponsored by PLDT president Manny V. Pangilinan, EVP Ricky Vargas, and Talk ‘n Text team manager Frankie Lim.