NBA standouts to power Valientes

A pair of legitimate National Basketball Association veterans will be at the forefront when the Zamboanga Valientes compete in the VisMin Super Cup Invitational Conference starting Tuesday at the Zamboanga City Coliseum.

Former Miami Heat gunner Mario Chalmers and journeyman Renaldo Balkman will suit up for the Valientes when they battle Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Misamis Oriental in the four-team tourney that will run until Saturday.

The 6-foot-2 Chalmers, who saw action when the Valientes competed in the Asean Basketball League recently, is a legitimate NBA veteran who won titles with LeBron James and the Heat in 2012 and 2013.

On the other hand, the 6-foot-7 Balkman was drafted by the New Year Knicks in 2006 before playing for the Denver Nuggets until being recruited by San Miguel Beer to play in the Philippine Basketball Association.
He also led Mighty Sports to the title of the William Jones Cup in Taiwan four years ago.

Balkman and Chalmers conspired in the ABL Invitationals in which they made it to the finals before losing the title to Singapore Slingers, 97-87.