THE Country-Wide Basketball League (CWBL) may be on the shelf but one of its teams, the Flying V Thunders, has been active.
Nearly a month after news broke that the CWBL was being dropped by television coveror ABS-CBN due to financial concerns, the squad has remained intact, practicing thrice a week while looking for a home.
And last Monday the Thunders played their first exhibition match against the De La Salle Green Archers at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Green Archers, heavy favorites to annex the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 79 men’s basketball trophy, defeated the new team, 116-105.
The Thunders with their lineup of former pros and recent graduates took an early 6-2 lead but La Salle quickly erased the deficit with its full-court press and superb three-point shooting. After five consecutive turnovers that saw La Salle convert from three-point range four times, the score was 14-6. The Green Archers looked to pull away but the Thunders’ Eric Salamat led a rally that saw them cut the deficit to six, 38-32, but five botched free throws and turnovers allowed the college squad to take the half, 62-51.
La Salle led by as many as 20 points, 96-76, following an Abu Tratter dunk, but the Thunders made one last run to notch the final count at 116-105.
“One month pa lang and we practice three times a week,” Thunders Coach Aric del Rosario noted. “And we missed Leo Avenido.”
Flying V team owner Raffy Villavicencio, who also comanages the Green Archers, made his way down to the former to congratulate them and instructed them to continue their efforts.
According to del Rosario and team manager Joey Guillermo, management is looking for a suitable league to play, whether it be the Philippine Commercial Basketball League, Asean Basketball League or the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Developmental League.
“Ngayon at least sabi ng boss tuluy-tuloy na. Sana malaman na natin kung saan tayo,” added del Rosario, whose last coaching stint was for three seasons with the Perpetual Help Altas in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
“Obviously, we didn’t have the fitness and chemistry that La Salle has,” Guillermo noted. “But it’s a good first tune-up match. We fought back but ran out of gas.”
Former Ateneo Blue Eagle Salamat, who was drafted by Alaska in the PBA and who also suited up for Air21 and Talk ’N Text, led the Flying V-backed team with 23 points, while former La Salle Green Archer forward-center Brian Ilad, who was drafted by B-MEG Derby Ace, chipped in 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Other players comprising the Flying V Thunders are Jarelan Tampus, Sam Marata, Froilan Baguion, Luis Sinco, Gwyne Capacio, Mark Andaya, Jun Jun Cabatu, JR Ongteco, Mikey Cabahug, Richard Albo and Leo Avenido.