Saturday, September 29, 2007 NBC boosts team with 2 imports
THE NATIONAL Basketball Conference is dead-set in zeroing in on the elusive Annual Kwan Hu Invitational Cup as two reinforcements arrived yesterday.
A combination of experience and youth will be the NBC’s added weapon in the Hua Lien, Taiwan joust slated on Oct. 3-8 as Australian leagues veteran Michael Anthony McDaniel and a young center Steven Broom have been tapped by the NBC to reinforce its selection.
McDaniel, who was born in the United States, has been playing in Australia since 1997. In 2005, he was the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year for the Nissan Islanders in the Pacific Basketball Association after averaging 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
The 6-5 guard, who has attained a Level One Coaching accreditation in the Australia Sports Commission, has played in the QABL State League and ABA in Australia and the USBL in the US. In 1999, he attended the Dallas Mavericks’ pre-season camp and played in the Los Angeles NBA Summer League.
McDaniel has with him a young partner in the 20-year old Broom. The hulking 6-9 behemoth made it to the All State First Team after leading the Queensland under-18 team to silver medal finish. This was his ticket to the All Australian Team that won the gold medal in the Junior Olympic Games in Sydney in 2004. He has been since training with the Brisbane Bullets.
“We’re bringing in imports with good credentials. Hopefully, they will help us win the championship,” said NBC President Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla.
The NBC came close to barging into the finals in 2005 when the KG Canaleta and Samigue Eman-led All-Filipino selection lost to European imports-led Jeoutai team in the semifinals.
Coach Boysie Zamar, who was with the team in 2005, has returned from his IBL stint in Indonesia, to get another crack.
Zamar has been reunited with the 2005 team holdovers Marlon Kalaw, Don Villamin and Mar Reyes.
Joining them are Larry Rodriguez, who was a member of the Harbour Center squad, which won the SEABA Champions Cup, Jeff Tajonera and ex-pros Niño Marquez, Marlon Legaspi, Nelson Asaytono and EJ Feihl.
“The team has been religiously practicing under assistant coach Efren “Yong” Garcia before Zamar arrived from Indonesia. As their final preparation, we have arranged an exhibition game with the Welcoat Dragons,” NBC Executive Vice President and Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino said.
The match against the Dragons will be played 9 a.m. today at the Lyceum gym. (PR)
