Wednesday, November 21, 2007 RP ready to defend Seag basketball crown in Thailand
AFTER four years, the RP national team is ready to defend the men’s basketball crown in the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhonratchasima, Thailand on Dec. 5 to 13.
Head coach Junel Baculi said that with the addition of Filipino-American Gabe Norwood, Al Vergara and Eric Rodriguez the team is at least ready for battle against expected strong rivals host Thailand and Indonesia.
“We have a very strong team and we are ready to defend the title,” said Baculi during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum yesterday.
This will be the first time the country will play in the biennial Sea Games since the lifting of the suspension by the Federation International Des Basketball (Fiba) in March this year.
“This is our only international crown and so we will do everything to bring home the bacon,” added Baculi referring to the country’s domination of the men’s basketball event in the South East Asia regional meet except 1989, when the RP squad lost to Malaysia.
He said that all in the current 16-man roster will join in the trip to Thailand and the squad will be trimmed to 12, which is the maximum number of players allowed to play.
“With this team is almost the same system with that which played in the Fiba-Asia championship in Japan. Everybody is playing hard and is very serious of winning the Sea Games title,” said the 22-year-old Norwood.
Other members of the dream team are skipper Jason Castro, Chris Tiu, Allan Salansang, Beau Belga, Chad Alonzo, Jonathan Fernandez, Eugene Tan, Boyet Bautista, Patrick Cabahug, Erik de la Cuesta, Alex Crisano, Jeff Chan and Jervi Cruz.
“We are all rearing to play and win the championship. We can not lose in the Sea Games,” said Castro of the PCU Dolphins.
Tournaments
Dr. Mikee Romero of Harbor Center, who bankrolled the team since its formation in April shared Baculi’s trust on the team, which started their stint in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba ) championship in Jakarta, Indonesia in June and later in the different international tournaments in Brunei then in Korea and Singapore.
“Since the formation of the team, we gave 200 percent effort and time. That’s how long we prepared this team. Now, they are your team, our national team,” said Romero.
Baculi also said that the bonding they have in Tagaytay City at least improved the camaraderie of the members including the newcomers Rodriguez, Vergara and Norwood, a 6-foot-6 forward, who played with the George Mason University in the US NCAA Division I.
“I’m very excited. This is my first international stint and I’m thrilled playing for the country,” said Chris Tiu of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Baculi also said that among the feared teams in the coming Sea Games, which was won by the James Yap, Marc Pingres and Ronald Tubid-led RP quintet in 2003 in Hanoi, Veitnam, are host Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
“The Indonesian went to Chinese-Taipei, they are trying to catch-up, while host Thailand is using a Chinese coach. But most Fiba officials that we have met in Korea and Singapore pointed Indonesia as the strongest among the three,” said Baculi. (FCC)
