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MPBL: Marikina retains Ular, Sazon for next season

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/sports/04/14/mpbl-2019-imus-vs-marikina-ular.jpg"/><figcaption>Ato Ular will once again suit up for Marikina in the next MPBL season. Handout photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- Looking to turn things around after a dismal showing in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan season, Marikina made its first move by keeping its nucleus intact for next season.The Shoemasters have retained the services of its dynamic duo Ato Ular and Yves Sazon to lead a Marikina squad that finished 13th in the Northern Division with an 8-22 win-loss slate.Ular suited up for Marikina immediately after his stint with Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the NCAA Season 95 men&#x27;s basketball tournament. He averaged 21.8 points and 16.0 rebounds in nine games. With Ular in the fold, the Shoemasters had a 4-5 win-loss record, and an average losing margin of just 5.0 points per game.The 6-foot-4 Ular also earned a spot in the MPBL All-Star Game.Meanwhile, Sazon was the third leading scorer of the league with 17.9 points per game, including 15 20-point games this season. He was the second player in the history of the league to score 1,000 points.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/nba/news/2020/04/14/mom-t-wolves-star-karl-anthony-towns-dies-covid-19-67600">READ: Mom of T-wolves star Karl-Anthony Towns dies from COVID-19</a></li></ul>&quot;Ang target ko naman talaga is to keep almost everybody from last season and add kung sino kulang namin. &#x27;Yung last season namin naging parang developmental season para sa amin,&quot; said Marikina head coach Elvis Tolentino.&quot;Last season siyempre for me failed, kasi ‘di naman tayo sasali dito just to join. We would want to be champion also but nag-alisan kasi mga players ko from the previous season kaya bago ulit,&quot; he added.Marikina also retained starters Von Tambeling and Daryl Pascual, who were among the team&#x27;s bright spots outside of Ular and Sazon.While he has already locked up his core, Tolentino believes he still needs a few pieces to make his team truly formidable. In particular, he is looking for a point guard to fill the hole in their roster.&quot;Mas okay sa akin to keep them, I’m just in need of a steady point guard. Kailangan ko ng leadership ng isang point guard so sana in the coming days &#x27;yun ang ma-acquire ko. Ular and Sazon will be very effective with a veteran point guard na medyo nasa prime pa,&quot; he said.<div>(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>).</div>

Looking to turn things around after a dismal showing in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan season, Marikina made its first move by keeping its nucleus intact for next season.

Looking to turn things around after a dismal showing in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan season, Marikina made its first move by keeping its nucleus intact for next season.