Louie Vigil leads SMB team in inaugural PBA 3×3

Louie Vigil is set to lead the San Miguel team in the inaugural PBA 3×3 tournament.

The 29-year old Vigil, who was drafted by the Beermen with the 17th overall pick in the 2017 draft, returned to the team’s active roster during the 2020 Philippine Cup after spending one season with San Miguel Alab Pilipinas over at the Asean Basketball League (ABL). He took the spot of Matt Ganuelas-Rosser who opted to spend time with his family in the US.

Joining Vigil are Daniel de Guzman and Bacon Austria.

De Guzman was also part of the Beermen during the ‘bubble season’ in Clark, Pampanga. He was drafted 42nd overall by San Miguel in 2019.

Austria, meanwhile, was drafted 27th overall by Rain or Shine in 2012 but was left unsigned. The former Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagle has been with SMB for quite sometime now as one of its practice players. He is the son of head coach Leo Austria.

Rounding out the Beermen’s 3×3 squad are Jeff Manday, Paul Gulfo, and James Mangahas.

Manday was the team’s 6th round pick in the Season 46 draft, 58th overall. He last played for Colegio de Santa Ana de Victorias in the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural Educational Association. The 6-foot guard was named MVP for three consecutive years, 2017 to 2019.

Gulfo, meanwhile, was one of the seven Fil-foreigners who were deemed ineligible to take part in the recent rookie draft due to incomplete requirements. He stands 6-foot-2 and was born and raised in Calgary, Canada.

Mangahas is a former Maharlika Pilipinas Baskebtall League (MPBL) player, most recently with Binan during the 2019-2020 Lakan Season. He stands 6-foot-3 and was a former teammate of Alaska guard JVee Casio at De La Salle University.