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Wednesday, March 24, 2004
2 TO RP POOL Ex-Wildcats star Cavan, UV reserve Gerila impress coaches
By Christian B. Rodriguez
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
CEBUANO cagers Jerry Cavan and Jay-R Gerila showed the coaches they got game and earned their way into national pool after the RP-Cebuana Lhuillier Try-Outs ng Bayan Visayas-Mindanao Final Showdown at the Macias Sports Complex in Dumaguete City yesterday.
Local phenom Miguel “Miko” Pacheco, on the other hand, nabbed a slot in the RP developmental pool while fellow Cebuanos Wilbert Sayson, Jomel Lanutan, Dale Caparas, Joseph Guangco and Rainward Ramos earned another shot to the RP team after securing slots to the final try-outs in Manila on April 15.
It was Cavan’s sweet shooting and well-executed game that awed the selection committee, while Gerila’s rebounding skills and offensive aggressiveness earned the coaches’ nods.
Cavan and Gerila, under coach Boycie Zamar, led the offensive assault to score eight and 22 points, respectively.
The 19-year-old Gerila showed his improved defensive efforts to neutralize the 6-foot-9 player from Davao, Samigue Eman, from scoring and dominating the boards.
The Cavan-Gerila duo fashioned an unstoppable one-two punch which riddled the defense.
Gerila logged eight rebounds and two blocks against Eman, who had 11 rebounds.
Joining the national pool is a dream come true according to Cavan and Gerila, who may soon be donning country’s colors in international competitions.
However, the two will still have to join the final try-outs on April 15 – the last immense obstacle where they battle for the top 12 slots against Luzon players.
The Cebuana Lhuillier group will take care of the athletes’ expenses in the Luzon try-outs and final try-outs.
A total of 24 slots are at stake in the national pool, where players will train in Manila and abroad for upcoming international games.
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old Pacheco will be joined by Cagayan de Oro’s Rigmar Pierturbos, Ricardo Cawaling, Joseph Racho and Aldwin Bagares in the developmental pool.
Joining Cavan and Gerila in the national pool are Eman and Eder Zaldua, who scored 10 points topped with three rebounds.
Edsel Vallena, who mentored Cavan and Ramos in the Cebu Institute of Technology said he was proud of the players’ accomplishment. Vellana is also currently coaching Lanutan, Sayson, Guangco, Caparas and Gerila in the Hilton Motors squad.
Zamar commended the player’s efforts saying, “They had heart and they valued each other during the two-day activity, which gave them pride in themselves,” Zamar said. CBR
(March 24, 2004 issue)
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