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VisMin Cup: High-flying ‘ligang labas’ vet gets Bohol call

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Rey Joble

An import who built a reputation playing as a rim-rattler in so-called “ligang labas” tournaments will be seeing action for Bohol-CPG Pure Mineral Water in the coming season of the Pilipinas VisMin Cup. Joel James Gonzalo, a 6-foot-3 high-flyer who previously suited up for New Era University, will play for Bohol and team up with former MPBL finals MVP Mark Yee.&quot;Matagal ko na inaalagaan yang bata na ’yan,&quot; said Engr. Gerry Garcia, team owner of Bohol-CPG Pure Mineral Water. &quot;Naglalaro ’yan para sa akin sa mga ligang labas kasama si Mark Yee, Chris Dumapig and Jhaps Bautista.&quot;&quot;Ang tawag d’yan Westbrook of the Philippines kasi nga kung mag-dunk siya parang si Russell Westbrook.&quot;Gonzalo is expected to be among the main attractions of the new season of the VisMin Cup, which is now under new management headed by commissioner Cris Bautista.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/04/22/zamboanga-sees-pba-type-playmakers-on-vismin-cup-roster">‘Future Mark Barroca’: Zamboanga sees promising guards on VisMin Cup roster</a></li></ul>Besides Gonzalo, other reinforcements seeing action in the new season are Mustapha Arafat of Basilan, Chibueze Ikeh of OCCI Ormoc, and Prince Eze of the Zamboanga Valientes among others.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/24/22/new-commish-vows-no-more-game-fixing-in-vismin-cup">New commissioner vows: ‘No more game-fixing scandal’ in VisMin Cup</a></li></ul>Arafat used to play for the University of the East Warriors, while Ikeh was the beloved reinforcement of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.Eze, meanwhile, was a former NCAA MVP who played for University of Perpetual Help. According to Garcia, Gonzalo made waves in an open commercial basketball league in Marikina, emerging as the MVP and slam-dunk champion 3 years ago.&quot;We&#x27;re determined to put up a competitive team, but at the same time we&#x27;re also planning to showcase the talent of our homegrown players,&quot; Garcia said.

Joel James Gonzalo, a 6-foot-3 high-flyer who previously suited up for New Era University, is being dubbed a ‘Westbrook’-type athlete.