Ilonggo guard Franz Diaz set to boost Iloilo United Royals’ backcourt in MPBL
Ilonggo point guard Franz Diaz will be taking his talents to the Iloilo United Royals in the ongoing 2023 OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). The development was confirmed after a phone call from Iloilo team owner Mr. JJ Javelosa to the Daily Guardian last April 1, 2023. After

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Ilonggo point guard Franz Diaz will be taking his talents to the Iloilo United Royals in the ongoing 2023 OKBet-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
The development was confirmed after a phone call from Iloilo team owner Mr. JJ Javelosa to the Daily Guardian last April 1, 2023.
After a failed stint with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers for the upcoming UAAP season, Diaz will be looking to divert his focus to helping the Iloilo squad rack up its first-ever win of the season.
This is the United Royals’ first losing start since joining the MPBL last 2019 and is yet to pick up a win when they dropped their first three games.
According to Javelosa, he is already eager to retool the team as early as possible to get back to their winning ways.
His first step was adding notable players to his roster and acquiring Diaz is one of the latest key moves he made in the first half of the season.
The 23-year-old pride of MH Del Pilar Jaro, Iloilo recently led the CEU Scorpions to the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) championship after edging Olivarez College in Game two, 92-82.
Diaz was impressive during his final year with the Scorpions and averaged 9.6 points, 4.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per contest and was also the team’s captain ball.
The floor general was a former player of renowned University of San Agustin coach Jophil Cercado when he was still the mentor of Ateneo de Iloilo.
In an exclusive interview with coach Cercado, he shared that he guided Diaz during his elementary and high school years before agreeing to join De La Salle Zobel and Ateneo de Cebu.
Diaz also joined the past season of the JB Amateur Basketball League (JB ABL) and played for the stacked Systemic Farm Chemicals squad.
Article Information
Comments (0)
LEAVE A REPLY
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!
Related Articles

Granada eyes repeat as ICTSI Intercollegiate golf returns
A deep and talent-laden field banners the return of the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tournament, which unwraps Monday (May 11) at Tagaytay Midlands with 18 collegiate teams battling not only for championships but also for growing prestige in what has rapidly become one of the country’s premier varsity golf competitions. Now on its second staging, the tournament,


