Cebuano basketball star Macmac Tallo will get to showcase his talents to basketball fans down south as he suits up for the reigning national champions, Basilan BRT Peace Riders in the second conference of the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup, which tips off this Saturday in Pagadian City.
With Aldin Ayo taking over the coaching duties of Basilan, Tallo will be teaming up with Cebuano Zachy Huang and veteran forward Mark Yee to carry the fight for the Peace Riders, which topped the VisMin Cup first conference with a convincing national finals win over the KCS Mandaue City.
“Excited ako kasi diyan ako lumaki eh. Kumbaga comfort zone ko yan. And siyempre, excited din ako makalaro ng 5 on 5 ulit,” shared Tallo, who over the past few months, has been busy leading the Chooks Manila TM in the FIBA 3×3 circuit.
Tallo added that adjustments will have to be made especially since he’s gotten used to playing 3×3 basketball.
“Nasa point pa ako na mag-aadjust ulit. Yung tipong off muna yung 3×3 gameplay. Pero I’ve been playing 5v5 my whole life so I think I’ll manage somehow,” shared Tallo, a former two-time MVP winner in the Cesafi.
Basilan, though, will have its work cut out with six other teams reloading their rosters with numerous well-known players.
MisOr Kuyamis will have the likes of former PBA players Mac Baracael, Jason Ballesteros, Rudy Lingganay and Reil Cervantes as well as amateur aces Ivan Meca, Joel Lee Yu and Joseph Nalos.
The Roxas Vanguards will have Marlon Basco, James Martinez and VisMin Visayas leg MVP, Jaymar Gimpayan.
The Anak Mindanao Warriors will parade Jan Jamon, Chito Jaime and Boyet Bautista, who will team up with local studs MVP Shaquille Imperial, Michole Sorela, Rhaffy Octobre and Cris Dumapig.
The other two teams are the Pagadian Explorers and the Iligan Archangels.
