FORMER West Negros University Mustang Severino "Nonoy" Baclao is among the 25 players who will comprise the country's basketball developmental pool as announced by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) last Monday in Manila.

SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan said the members of the national team for the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Laos and the 2010 Asian Games and 2011 Fiba Men's Asian Championship will be selected from the said 25-man pool which was selected by the SBP National Team Program Group headed by project director Rajko Toroman.

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Among the collegiate standouts named to the pool together with Baclao are San Sebastian's Jason Ballesteros and Arvie Bringas, Fil-Am standout Joey Deas of Rockhurst University in Kansas, and University of Visayas standout 7-footer Greg Slaughter; (point guards) Marcy Arellano (UE), Mark Barroca (FEU), and JV Casio; (guard/forwards) Dylan Ababou (UST), Marc Baracael (FEU), Ryan Buenafe (Ateneo), JR Cawaling (FEU), Paul Lee (UE), Peejay Barua (La Salle), and Martin Reyes (UP); (center/forwards) Rico Fajardo (UC), Magi Sison (UP), Terrel Theophile (Pampanga Buddies), Jervey Cruz (UST) and Philipp Paredes (Reedley).

Also named to the team were Ateneo's Chris Tiu and Rabeh Al-Hussaini, La Salle's Rico Maierhofer and San Beda's Ogie Menor.

The selection also earlier included US-based players Japeth Aguilar and Gian Chiu but SBP sources said they deferred listing the two in the final roster pending a final discussion with them on their inclusion into the roster.

Baclao told Sun.Star Bacolod in an earlier interview he welcomes his inclusion into the national training pool but that his stint in the national team would depend on the approval of Ateneo management.

"It's really a great opportunity and an honor but it will all have to depend on the decision of Ateneo management since my first priority is my studies and my commitments as a varsity player," Baclao earlier said when he was treated to a thanksgiving dinner by West Negros University chairman of the Committee on Sports Management and Development Anthony Carlo Agustin at the Bar 21 Restaurant early last month. (HCV)

For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan.

(December 3, 2008 issue)
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