I CAN’T help but admire the resolve of the people behind the RP Youth basketball team that was presented in an elaborate ceremony last Tuesday at the jampacked Teatrino in Ortigas, Pasig City.

Presenting a team that sorely lacks spectacular high-school standouts was no hindrance to the coaching staff, led by head coach Franz Pumaren. A total of 17 youngsters were presented on-stage but he admitted that many things might happen in the future, although “these are the future of basketball in the country.”

“If you are seeing heroes in today’s surroundings, I tell you, these are future heroes you will be idolizing several years from now. They have already given tremendous sacrifices for the country in the name of basketball and I am really proud of them,” Pumaren said. Although some of them are sons of former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) superstars, Pumaren added they were treated equally during training and no one has been treated as superstar. 

With that, I reminisced the days when Pumaren and a dozen of unknown cagers were plucked by Ron Jacobs to play for the Northern Consolidated Cement of then basketball-supporter and former Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. That team eventually represented the country in various international amateur tournaments and won glory for the Filipinos.

Nobody gave the team a chinaman’s luck when it was formed and presented to the media. But the dedication of the coaching staff and the players (some of them were Elmer Reyes, Dong Uichico, Tonichi Yturri, Hector Calma, Alfie Almario with the sprinkling of Americans like Chip Engelland, Dennis Steel and Jeff Moore) themselves, plus the unwavering support of Ambassador Cojuangco, Northern Cement became a force to reckon with in the professional league (the PBA) and later on in the international court.

That Tuesday afternoon, while Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas secretary-general Patrick Gregorio, and great sponsors Jun Sy of Tao Corp. and Nokia country manager William Hamilton-Whyte took turns in saying their pieces, the incredible story of the Northern Cement crept into my mind.

While Agatep’s top honcho Charlie, Audrey General and Frances Crisol together with Nokia’s corporate communications manager Nikka Abes were busy entertaining the media in the background, solid attention was given to Jun Sy, a virtual unknown godfather in the sporting scene, when he stood up. Jun, for your info, is the founder of Tao Corp., the country’s premier supply chain service company which is one of the Top 500 corporations with a consolidated annual turnover of over P20 bilion. This could be one big reason that ambitious P76-million buildup program for these youngsters is “peanuts” for him and an even easy way to become a popular “godfather.”

But no, that’s not the way he sees it. “Who is Jun Sy? Is he related to the owner of SM? The answer to that last question is NO, but I wished,” he narrated, soliciting laughter from the jampacked crowd.

Then again, what will he gain from that project? “In our first planning meeting last December of 2007, we sought to iron out and craft our ‘mission and vision’ for this project. We agreed that the reason we’ve come together is to provide our nation with a program that will mentor our youth to become world-class basketball players and to become outstanding citizens. And instill in their hearts a passion to compete honorably, to be humble in victory and to represent the Philippines with pride and integrity, pursuing excellence with unrelenting fervor and leading the way! We also agreed that this basketball program shall be founded on Love for Country, Passion for the Game, Leadership, Integrity and Commitment to Excellence. Core values that are necessary in molding the next generation of Filipinos to greatness. We want to influence this nation with a spirit of nationalism and pride in our heritage as Filipinos. And, in so doing, become the model institution for all other branches of Philippine sports,” said Jun, a former varsity player during his younger days at the Sacred Heart College in Cebu City.

But winning the gold is not the bottom line of that ambitious three-year buildup for the young team. And he knew it very well. “Realistically, that dream will have to wait. We see the importance of the fact, that before we can win we must create winners. A portion of the budget has been dedicated to four-year college scholarships to everyone who makes it to the final team lineup. We must focus on education and building character among our youth. We must raise Filipinos who will not just know about the vision but also ‘own’ that vision. We have not set aside our dream of becoming Asian champions, in fact, that is our ultimate goal! But we have decided that we will do this the right way. We want a program that will have a lasting effect on our nation, a program whose fruit will last!

Tough task ahead indeed for this Nokia Pilipinas Team whose battle cry is “One team, One Dream!” But the sincerity of Jun’s resolve to build a team from scratch through perseverance was widely clapped by the crowd. “It is for the common good of our beloved country that we have decided to take on this challenge. And we seek to restore the honor and respect that we used to enjoy from our Asian neighbors, especially when the subject of basketball is mentioned. We seek a revival of the Filipinos’ indomitable spirit. Through basketball, we want this spirit, this strength of character to influence our countrymen to be excellent in every endeavor. We know that we Filipinos can do it!”

Excellent, indeed! May the power and the force be with you all!

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THIS Sunday’s Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) Chairman’s Cup serves as an excellent preview of this year’s Triple Crown Championship Series.      

I have to contend watching the replay of this one when I come back from a four-day trip to China. But please, watch it live if you can when the best three-year-olds in the land battle it out in this P2-million event which is in honor of former Philracom chairman and now Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo.

Those in the final lineup in this 1,500-meter race that offers a cool P1.2 million to the winner are: Anonymous, Louie Balboa, 52; Bohemian Dave, Dominador Borbe Jr., 54; Diamond Duchess, John Cordero, 52; Don Enrico, John Paolo Guce, 54; Imperial Ballet, Kelvin Abobo, 54; Indelible Ink, Jeff Zarate, 52; Security Queen, Jesse Guce, 52; Shining Fame, Pati Dilema, 54; and Unopposed, Fernando Raquel Jr., 54. The runner-up picks up P450,00, while the third and fourth placers receive P250,000 and P100,000, respectively.

The face-off between Don Enrico and Indelible Ink is keenly awaited by the racing fans. The one who checked in first at the payoff wire here would certainly have a psychological advantage going into the big series middle of this year.

Shaq eclipsed

PHOENIX—It sure seemed like May or June, anything but February, with a frenzied backdrop and thickened tension that were present and tangible long before tip-off.

Manila surprised to be No. 2

Bacolod City—Canlubang started hot as expected, and Manila Golf, too—but that, on the contrary, was rather surprising.

JENNIFER ROSALES tries anew to get back on track and follow up on her Women’s World Cup of Golf success with Dorothy Delasin when she competes in the Fields Open at the Ko Olina Golf Club in Hawaii Friday.

RYAN GREGORIO believes he has found the antidote that would enable his troops to endure the physicality of the championship series.

Far Eastern U (FEU) accomplished a rare feat in football after sweeping the men’s and women’s divisions in Season 70 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Thursday at the Ateneo Field.

IT seems like world soccer is still keeping a special eye on the Philippines despite the sport’s moribund state in the country.

I CAN’T help but admire the resolve of the people behind the RP Youth basketball team that was presented in an elaborate ceremony last Tuesday at the jampacked Teatrino in Ortigas, Pasig City.