Visminda reloads for another title run

Boy Garcia doesn’t like sitting on his laurels and has spent the off-season plugging the deficiencies of his team.

The coach of United Filipino Organization Basketball League defending champion Visminda has added three dependable guards to give last year’s regular season MVP Pando Muleta help on the backcourt as well as complement his already formidable frontline.

The three top additions to the Country House Restaurant-sponsored team are Chris Domingo, Jon Artates, and Bing Marasigan. Domingo played for MIFICPA least season, while Artates and Marasigan donned the uniforms of Bayani and LIPS, respectively, in 2003.

Garcia said Domingo and Artates are expected to bring athleticism and defense to the team. Marasigan, for his part, is a noted gunner who could also share the playmaking chores with Muleta. Garcia, however, said that Marasigan was injured in a recent tournament and is doubtful for the season.

“Our problem last year was we had a hard time playing against faster and more athletic teams. I hope are off-season recruitment of Chris and Jon solves that problem. I also hope Bing gets a clean bill of health to play this season because he gives us additional firepower from the outside,” said Garcia.

The trio will join a competent and veteran core of players led by 2002 regular season MVP Danny Bicera and last year’s Finals MVP Banjo Basila. The rest of the team is made up of national team player and defensive stalwart Jawn Joyner, former Philippine amateur basketball cagers Ed Cosino and Dado Vistal, resident power forward Emil De Belen, and key reserves Rey Uy, Edward Vega, and Armand Anasan.

Visminda is also welcoming two rookies this year – Edwin “Jake” Guinto and Will Cachero – and has Garcia himself and Tony “Payton” Gabriel on injured reserve. Gabriel is expected to double as assistant coach for Garcia.

Like last year, Visminda’s strength this year continues to lie on the inside with Cosino, Joyner, Bicera, and De Belen able to dominate the shaded lane at any given time.

To ease the pressure down the low blocks, Garcia can either throw the ball to outside shooters Vistal, Uy, or on occasion Muleta. He could also opt to give the spheroid to playmakers Muleta or Basila, who could break down the defenses of opposing teams.

Garcia said this year’s team is very promising but team chemistry is still a big question.

“We have five new players we’re breaking in and we’ll probably do just fine. Time will tell if this team can pull off the miracle run we had last year.

The 2004 season of the UFO cage league will unfurl tomorrow starting at 2pm at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Aside from Visminda, the 11 other teams signed up for the tourney are last year’s runner-up Cabalen, three-time champion SIP, LIPS, Laguna, Bicol, MDX, Cavite, Bayani, Bartenders Association, MAFILWA, and SMF.