Tuesday, September 30, 2008 8 eyed for training pool
JUNMAR Fajardo and Greg Slaughter may be fierce rivals in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) basketball wars but if plans push through the two could be the pillars of the future Philippine national team.
University of Cebu’s Fajardo, and University of the Visayas Greg Slaughter, who stand 6-foot-10 and 6-foot-11 respectively, were among the eight Cebuanos who caught the eye of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, who is set to head the National Training Program of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“We (Toroman and SBP) already have come to an agreement, what are lacking are the signatures which will be tomorrow (today),” SBP executive director Noli Eala told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
The move by SBP, which is headed by businessman Manny V. Pangilinan, shows that despite the recent court ruling declaring the Prospero Pichay-led group as the rightful national sports association for basketball, it is not putting its developmental program on hold.
Eala and Toroman were in Cebu last Sunday to watch the Cesafi men’s basketball matches featuring UV against the University of San Carlos and UC against the University of San Jose-Recoletos.
Toroman, according to Eala thinks Slaughter could become a focal part of the young RP team which he will be assembling in November.
“He was very impressed with Slaughter whom he described to be playing just 15 to 20 percent of his full potential. Toroman said that Slaughter needs to be in tip-top condition, learn to play better game, and must develop his rebounding skills,” Eala said.
Eala said Toroman, who led Iran to an Olympic slot in the Beijing Olympics, also thinks the same of Fajardo and said both could be the ideal big men in the national training pool, which is set to be launched on Oct. 20.
Other candidates
Aside from the two centers, Toroman also plans to invite Harry Von Lañete, Chris Diputado, Chad Harlow Villanil of UV, Luther Luke Justiniani of USJ-R, Emil Rowe of USC among others.
“There will be about 8 to 12 players (from Cebu) who will be invited to come to the three-day workshop with Toroman in November and from them, he will be choosing players to make with the RP Training Pool,” said Eala.
Eala also assured whoever will be included in the national training pool will be staying with the mother ballclub.
“We will be arranging measures that these players will be joining the national team without leaving their mother teams. We will just make an agreement with their
respective schools that aside from the Cesafi or other national tournaments, the next priority of their players will be the national team,” said Eala.
Aside from the 2012 London Olympics, which Eala described as the team’s yardstick, SBP’s long-term program is also geared towards the 2016 Olympics. (RCM)
