Sunday, June 30, 2008 After 2 runnerup seasons, USC guns for title
AFTER losing its top player in Niño Ramirez, the University of San Carlos, 2007 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) basketball runnerup, admitted replacing the valuable slot man will be next to impossible.
However, with two bridesmaids finishes, expectations run high after seven-time champion University of the Visayas showed its vulnerability.
“We could not find a talent like Niño. We still have (Enrico) Llanto, who had effectively worked side by side Niño for years,” said coaching staff member Ryan Betia.
Betia said that losing one player, they need a full arsenal of USC to fill the gap Ramirez left.
“Players like Giovanni Padillo, Gino Gallarde and Sam Hermosa will have to double their efforts so that we will not feel the loss,” said Betia.
Ramirez exhausted his playing years in the Cesafi but still regularly trains with the team. He is set to graduate this October and is expected to have himself drafted in the big leagues by then.
Meanwhile, coach Mike Reyes said that they have beefed up their lineup to solidify their chances.
“The team will be doing its best this year and we have tapped new players to help us in our bid this year,” Reyes said.
On top of USC’s new recruits is Filipino-Aussie Emel Rowe, the 6-foot-5 behemoth, whose mother is from Consolacion.
USC also signed up shooting guard Michael Cantonao, who used to play for UV and Alfred Vitug, who is from Pampanga.
Meanwhile, Southwestern University, the league’s youngest team, eyes to repeat its exploit over University of the Visayas Lancers which it defeated in the National Inter-
Collegiate Tournament earlier this year.
Back for just its second season in the league, the Cobras are expected to be more mature this time around.
“The maturity of our players will be a big help,” said SWU athletic director Ryan Aznar.
SWU did not stop playing in the past year. After the Cesafi, they went on to compete in various competitions.
The Cobras will not have a solid lineup. There will also be movement as it will no longer enjoy the sweet shooting services of Richard Gianchand and Mariano Canonigo, who are out due to academic reasons.
Since SWU has strict rules about their athletes’ studies , they decided not to allow the two to play this season.
However, they will have the support from Rene Pacquiao, who was out for a while because of medical reasons. Aznar said that Pacquiao was cleared by physicians to resume playing. (MCB)
