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THE
country’s future cage heroes are ready to face the
challenge in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba)
Championship for Junior Men set from May 1 to 5.
And they
promised to bring home the crown last held in 2004.
The RP
Youth squad of coach Franz Pumaren leaves this morning
for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, armed with the desire to
regain the title from the host country in the
five-nation tournament.
“I think
we’re ready. There’s now a camaraderie and cohesion
among us. We are all excited because we’ll be playing
not for our school but for the country,” said team
captain Frank Golla, the six-foot-five center from
Ateneo.
The
18-year-old Golla is one of 15 who made the final cut by
the coaching staff, and assistant coach Sandy
Arespacochaga said they will decide on the regular 12 in
the managers’ meeting on the eve of the tournament.
Those
who also made the team were cocaptain Ryan Roose Garcia,
a five-foot-eight guard from Far Eastern University;
six-foot-two Gabriel Banal of Xavier School,
five-foot-eight Joseph Terso and six-foot-three Jovet
Mendoza of National University; five-foot-eight Joel
Tolentino and six-foot-two Samuel Joseph Marata of
University of the Philippine Integrated School;
six-foot-one Mark de Guzman of College of St. Benilde;
six-foot Mark Lopez of UP; six-foot-one Jed Manguera of
La Salle-Zobel; six-foot-six Philip Paredes of Sacred
Heart Cagayan de Oro; six-foot-four Ian Sangalang of
Pampanga; six-foot-one JP Mendoza of Tarlac;
six-foot-six Norbert Torres, a Filipino-American based
in Canada; and six-foot-six Filipino-American Kyle
Pascual of Esperanza High School in California.
Most of
the members gave up the chance to play for their schools
in the coming college hoop wars.
“Not all
are given this opportunity. There will be still time to
play for your school,” Golla added. “Of course, I’ll be
missing the opportunity to play for Ateneo in the UAAP
[University Athletic Association of the Philippines].”
Lopez
admitted he is itching to play for the Fighting Maroons,
especially that UP will host the coming UAAP season.
“We were
0-14 last season. I really want to help my school have a
better showing. If I will only be allowed to play for
both teams, I’ll do it. But for me, country first,” said
the 17-year old Lopez, a Sports Science major.
Pascual
is one of two highly touted recruits by Pumaren during
their training at the Joe Abunassar Camp in
California
in March and the 18-year-old center is raring to play
for the country.
“I’m
very honored to be part of this group and it’s a great
opportunity for me, and I’ll do my best to help this
team win,” said Pascual, who idolizes Kobe Bryant of the
Los Angeles Lakers and plans to play in the Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA) some day.
The team
was treated to a sendoff lunch by Basketball Association
of the Philippines-Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP)
president Manny V. Pangilinan on Sunday at the San Beda
College campus in Mendiola.
Pumaren
excused himself from that gathering as he had to attend
the wedding of his former player at La Salle Joseph Yeo.
But in a previous interview, Pumaren said his team needs
a lot of work to do.
“We
still have to play on a consistent basis. I’ve been
stressing to the boys that basketball is a 40-minute
game. We can’t just show what we’re capable of doing.
Hopefully, we can correct those lapses before our
opening game,” he said.
After
Malaysia on May 1, the RP Youth next faces Thailand on
May 2; Indonesia on May 4; and Singapore on May 5.
Pumaren
will be assisted by Arespacochaga, younger brother Dindo,
Jack Santiago and conditioning coach Dan Rose. Jun Sy is
the team manager, while Ito Lopa and Val Victa are the
assistant managers. |
