LINGAYEN: Pangasinan formally joined the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) following the awarding of its franchise in a ceremony on Wednesday, February 7, at the Urduja House here.

"It's a big honor for me to be the franchise holder on behalf of our team," said businessman and former Bayambang mayor Cezar Quiambao.

"I find this as a way of supporting the basketball aficionados in our province, and as an opportunity to develop homegrown basketball players," Quiambao added.

He said that the team will be known as the Pangasinan Heat, consistent with its hot weather that had made it attractive to solar farm investors. It is also the intense heat of the sun that produces salt in the province.

Alaminos City Mayor Arth Bryan Celeste, the team's manager, said that the majority of Pangasinan's players are homegrown.

"But we cannot avoid recruiting players later from other provinces if we want to be a formidable team," Celeste said.

"We now have 10 to 12 homegrown players, then we will recruit five to seven players from outside Pangasinan," he added.

The Heat's roster was selected through a series of tryouts in the last two weeks by the coaching staff composed of former professional basketball players Cris Calaguio, Jun Marzan and Sonny de Jesus.

During the ceremony, Marlou Aquino, Danny Ildefonso and Lorde Tugade were introduced as team consultants.

Gov. Ramon Guico 3rd said they did not have enough time organizing the team but said the roster they have assembled is a solid one.

"I'm sure there are a lot of Pangasinense who really can play, who have the skills, who have the height, but we were late to have them and they may now have commitments in other teams," said Guico.

"But if we fare good in this first season, I think that will attract a lot of our homegrown players," he added.

Kenneth Duremdes, MPBL commissioner, said that he was happy to see Pangasinan in the league.

"For the longest time, [former] senator Manny Pacquiao wanted me to reach out to Pangasinan because he wanted a Pangasinan team in the MPBL," said Duremedes.

"We are happy because of the team's composition and their plans are aligned with the vision of the league, which is to develop homegrown players and to give more opportunities for them to shine in the MPBL," he added.

Pangasinan is the 29th team in the MPBL this season. Abra is the 28th team to join the team after it signed up on Tuesday, February 6.

Guico clarified that the entity behind the Pangasinan team is a private group, "but carrying the name of the province."

"The province's logo will also be used. But we, the provincial officials, are supporting the team in our individual capacity as Pangasinense," Guico said.

He also said that no government fund will be spent for the team.