A comebacking franchise in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) is likewise bent to join the PBA.

Starhorse Shipping Lines submitted a letter of intent to become part of Asia’s oldest professional league, SPIN.ph learned from sources around the league.

PHOTO: Starhorse-Basilan FB

The company is the same backer of returning Basilan-Starhorse which is set to compete in the 7th season of the MPBL. The formal letter was sent to the league two days ago and signed no less by team owner Merian Hernandez-Reyes.

It isn’t clear yet whether Starhorse is seeking to become an expansion franchise or willing to buy any existing franchise should there be an available one up for sale.

Commissioner Willie Marcial, who is currently with Gilas Pilipinas in its training camp in Doha, Qatar, mentioned in the past about two to three companies which all seriously expressed intention to join the pro league that is turning 50 this year.

The PBA last accepted a new team in 2022 when Converge bought the Alaska franchise lock, stock, and barrell.

Starhorse is a domestic shipping company that operates in the Calabarzon, Bicol, Visayas, and Mimaropa regions established in 2008 by the late entrepreneur and former Quezon Province Board Member Victor Reyes.

Just recently, the company tied up to back the campaign of Basilan in its return stint to the MPBL after a two-year leave of absence.

Basilan previously played in the regional tournament from 2018-2020 and reached the Southern Conference finals prior to the pandemic that led to the suspension of game plays for almost a year.

The team was tied with Negros Occidental at 1-1 when the tournament resumed in 2021 under a bubble set up in Subic. Unfortunately, some of Basilan's players tested positive for Covid-19 leading to its loss to the Tigers in the best-of- three semis.

After the MPBL, the franchise played in the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup where it won the championship, and then did the same when it participated in the 2021 MPBL Invitational when it beat the heavy favorite Nueva Ecija Vanguards in the finals that went into overtime, 82-80.

The current Basilan team has the likes of former PBA players Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Jervy Cruz, Clint Doliguez, Rey Publico, Jeff Viernes, Sherwin Concepcion, and Reymar Caduyac (PBA 3x3) in its roster under coach Mac Tan and team manager Bernard Yang.

Former PBA no. 1 pick Rich Alvarez is also part of the coaching staff along with Rob Labagala and Carmelo Navarro.

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