Tuesday, January 22, 2008 Call for more 'Slaughters'
FOLLOWING the sensation brought about by Filipino-American Gregory Slaughter to the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi), other schools are intensifying their recruitment process are extending this to other countries.
Last week, two Fil-Ams from Guam arrived in Cebu and are currently training with the University of San Carlos preparing to solidify the USC Warriors’ arsenal for the 2008 season of the Cesafi.
USC head coach Jay Ramirez told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that their new recruits JP Cruz and Alfred Vitog are additions to USC’s crumbling lineup.
The two were recruited by US-based Peter Jao, Ramirez’s brother in-law, who was with him during their stint with the RP team.
USC’s star guard Niño Ramirez had used all of his playing years, leaving a whole in USC’s offensive front, while other dependable players Earvin Ferraren, Carlo Padayao and Harvey Lasalita will not be playing this season.
In Niño’s absence, however, Vitog will take his place. “Vitog, who can play the point and shooting guard positions, will be a huge factor in our back court,” said Jay, Niño’s father.
Ramirez added that he feels more confident that his team is beefed up by these Fil-Ams who are more experienced compared to his younger squad.
Both players have played in a commercial league in Guam and, according to Ramirez, are used to playing against bigger and more physical players that Cesafi will not be such a hard thing for them.
Vitog and Cruz are actually the second batch of recruits by USC. They earlier tapped Aussies Emel Rowe, PJ Estorque. Rowe, however, was eyed by Ateneo de Manila University and now trains under head coach Norman Black. Estorque will be arriving before the first semester starts.
For other schools, like Southwestern University, athletic director Ryan Aznar said that they are merely waiting for their alumni and contacts abroad to give them recommendations.
Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy said that this is the growing trend among the collegiate basketball nowadays even in Manila.
“They are bigger players and more experienced and they will surely be a big help in a team,” said Tiukinhoy.
He added that it is a welcomed development as it will improve the level of competition among schools.
“However, we cannot deny that for other schools, they are more concerned in making students out of basketball players and not basketball players of students. They see things differently and their process of recruitment is different,” said Tiukinhoy. (MCB)
