Friday, January 25, 2008 Aussies praise Davao cagers By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
THE Australian Sports Ambassadors basketball team from Perth, Western Australia was all praise for Davao City players and fans whom they spent time together with during a series of exhibition matches in the past two days here.
Six-foot-five Aussie team captain Greg Beacham said there are a lot of good players in Davao.
"They're not so tall but they're very quick. They have quick hands. They're keeping us busy. They're friendly and very kind, too," Beacham said.
The foreign team defeated Brokenshire College Wednesday and Barangay 32-D team Thursday morning by more than 20 points.
The team was set to play Mats College of Technology at 4 p.m. then the city sports coordinator Christopher "Bong" Go-led Duterte Agilas at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Beacham said their Philippine Tour this year was a rich experience even for him who had also been here in past trips.
"The Filipinos are very relational. I love to come back here over and over again. Playing basketball here is a good experience for us. We get to set example when we play. We get to the crowd as much as we can to share with them how much the love of Jesus has changed our lives completely," said Beacham, a teacher by profession, during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum held at the Tower Inn Thursday.
Playing-coach Jeff Long, father of Kirk Long now playing with the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles varsity team, added: "Yes, basketball in the Philippines is a great experience for us and our families. It had impact on our lives and it's fun to be back."
Sports Ambassadors director Gary Visitacion said the team will take a break at the Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort in the morning today then will fly to Manila in the evening before taking a trip home on Sunday.
The other members of the team Joshua Manthe who had a stint with Arthro Kontra Arthritis team of Cebu, Giles Creelman, Mark Beacham, Danny Cook, Mike Valenti, Hedley Taylor, Brad Potts and Rufo Cabunkal, were also present during the forum.
