Batangas City-Tanduay Athletics Coach Goldwin Gears Up for Back-to-Back Dubai Matches

“As a team, our goal is to do our best to win one game at a time and eventually reach the cham-pionship. The upcoming games in Dubai is definitely one of the games we are looking forward to. We focus on building a tight team. Keep everyone focused on the goal.” ~Monteverde, a long-time coach in the youth level who has steered the Nazareth School of Na-tional University in the UAAP to a championship

Coach Goldwin Monteverde, the newly appointed coach of Batangas City-Tanduay Athletics, revealed that the team is working hard to up their game now that the stakes in the fastest-growing league in the Philippines are getting high.

This is after the latest announcement of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) commissioner Kenneth Duremdes that the Batangas City-Tanduay Athletics will play against Datu Cup South Division Champions Davao Occidental Tigers on September 27 and then against the Gerald Andersen-led Imus Bandera on September 28.

The games in Dubai are part of the regular Lakandula Cup schedule, which will be held either at the 17,000-capacity Coca-Cola Arena or the 10,000-seat Trade Centre Arena.

Batangas City-Tanduay Athletics’ current lineup includes:

• Derek Ramsay
• Jeff Viernes
• Lester Alvarez
• Val Acuña
• Jason Melano
• Dennice Villamor
• Jaymo Eguilos
• Prince Rivero
• Genmar Bragais
• Moncrief Rogado
• Mark Olayon
• Arvin Tolentino
• Adrian Santos
• Jayson Grimaldo
• Ralph Olivares
• Earvin Mendoza
• Dexter Mescallado
• Nikki Perez

Considered as one of the league’s strongest teams, Batangas City-Tanduay Athletics was the Rajah Cup inaugural season champion. Organizers also noted that the team has a strong fan base and celebrity player Derek Ramsey in its roster.

Monteverde, whose accomplishments include having won championships in the National Basketball Training Center, Palarong Pambansa, Metro Manila Basketball League, and Tiong Liam Basketball League is faced with a greater challenge as he brings his expertise into the big league. This is his first time to coach players in the seniors division, as he was mostly a high school coach prior to joining the Batangas City-Tanduay Athletics.

For their inaugural game in the Lakan Season of the MPBL, Batangas City-Tanduay Athletics beat the Muntinlupa Cagers, 79-70. Viernes led the scoring with 25 points, 18 of which he delivered in the crucial 2nd half of the game. He also had 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.

Apart from Viernes, Melano, Acuña, and Bragais also stepped up their game.