PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Champion : Hapee Fresh Fighters

It was a breath of freshness for me to be able to meet the players of Hapee Toothpase; the Hapee Fresh Fighters. A night of meet and greet and good food happen at Banzai MOA last April 9. Fresh from their win against AMA; the Hapee Fresh Fighter was happy to introduces its new players and it’s coaching team.

After winning last season’s PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, Hapee Fresh Fighters is ready to win this year’s Foundation Cup and bag its second straight championship title in the amateur league.

Continuing to support the growth of sports among young Filipinos, Hapee Toothpaste showed a strong comeback last season after years of hiatus.

With Bobby Ray Parks

My Shirt

“We are so happy with our successful comeback—not only did we have a great season but also a championship title. But more than the win, we’re here for another season to continue supporting the sport because we believe in the youth’s potential to be the best in this field,” said Dr. Cecilio Pedro, Lamoiyan Corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“We’re happy that the team is still intact despite some changes. The coaching staffs including Mr. Magsanoc has accepted the challenge to handle the team and give us a second win. After all, Ronnie is one of the best minds in amateur basketball,” said Joel Pedro, Lamoiyan Corporation’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Lamoiyan Corporation through its flagship brand Hapee Toothpaste has joined the league for another season to tap the potential talents of Filipino youth when it comes to sports especially in basketball.

Hapee continues to push its advocacy in helping the youth develop values such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, teamwork, sportsmanship, friendship and camaraderie through sports.

Despite some players not yet returning for this season, people can still expect that Hapee Fresh Fighters is a force to be reckoned with in this cup. According to the Team Manager Bernard Yang, the owners decided to bring in new faces when the league started earlier this year because some of its players from San Beda Red Lions are in the United States for their collegiate basketball training.

The team’s line-up includes San Beda standouts Mar Villahermosa, Mark Romero, Arvie Bringas, and Leo Gabo, former NU star Bobby Ray Parks, former La Salle player Jovet Mendoza, and Ateneo’s Nico Elorde and Kirk Long.

Rounding up the team are Gilas Cadet Garvo Lanete, NU’s Troy Rosario, Perpetual Help’s Scottie Thompson, UP’s Mark Lopez, PBA’s Mavin Hayes, and Mike Gamboa.

Hapee enlisted former PBA star Ronnie Magsanoc as head coach, while while former PBA star Benjie Paras and former UP player turned sports commentator Xavi Nunag as assistant coaches.  Joining the coaching team also are Reynaldo Jacinto and Melo Navarro as assistant coaches.  Doc Iby Bautista and Neil Bryan Gatpandan are our Physical Therapists and Trainers.

Winning six of seven D-League championship the past three years, NLEX has now moved up to PBA, allowing Hapee to take its D-League franchise starting last season.

Hapee took home three championships in the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL) where the team was among its pillars.