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THE
Harbour Centre-backed Philippine men’s basketball team
is ready to defend its crown in the coming Southeast
Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) Club Championship
starting April 3 in
Jakarta,
Indonesia.
But the
squad will be fielding only one import in Sam Ekwe of
San Beda and assigning a new mentor in Jorge Gallent.
Gone are
former imports Julius Nwosu and Vidal Messiah, who
steered the RP Five to a Seaba crown last year in
Indonesia, and head coach Junel Baculi who opted to be
at the sideline this time.
“I was
the one who suggested na si Jorge muna
because of time constraint,” Baculi told the
BusinessMirror when asked why he won’t be back on the
bench to help the Nationals in the
Jakarta
tournament.
“Since
we’re already preparing the PBL [Philippine Basketball
League] team, mas maganda kung si Jorge na
muna. But after that, I’ll be the coach again,”
added Baculi, who remains as consultant of Batang Pier.
Harbour
decided to bring only Ekwe as the team’s reinforcement
for the tournament, though Samahang Basketbol ng
Pilipinas (SBP) is still talking to officials from Red
Lions if they could release the six-foot-eight Nigerian
to play for the national team.
SBP
executive director Patrick Gregorio said they are also
considering another San Beda Nigerian recruit Kevin
Emeka Udo to join Ekwe, but negotiations fell apart.
Gregorio
added that Ekwe’s imminent stint with the Nationals
could be a test run for SBP’s goal of naturalizing a
foreign player to beef up the men’s team.
Ekwe is
expected to face a tough challenge against more
offensive-minded imports in the Seaba joust.
The team
said it is unfazed by such a mismatch.
“We’re
hoping that [Ekwe] can provide for what we lack in
height. ’Yung scoring niya, bonus na lang,”
Baculi added.
Harbour
team manager Eric Arejola agreed, saying Ekwe is a tough
rebounder and a force inside the paint.
Gallent,
architect of Batang Pier’s historic four straight title
run in the PBL, will be in his second international
stint as a coach, having mentored the RP Five 18-under
youth squad, backstopped by James Yap and Paul Artadi, a
few years ago in Taipei.
He is
expected to bring in the core of Harbour squad led by
Jason Castro, Jonathan Fernandez, Richard Alonzo, Beau
Belga, TY Tang, Jerwin Gaco and Fil-Am Solomon Mercado.
New recruits Jeff Chan, Boyet Bautista and Al Vergara
are also expected to make the team.
Batang
Pier owner Dr. Mikee Romero is hoping that Hapee would
release Gabe Norwood to play anew for the national team.
Player
of the Week
Christian Luanzon took the responsibility of leading
Bacchus Energy Drink to its first victory in the PBL
Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup.
And he
did it by firing a season-high 32 points, including six
straight triples, to lift the Raiders to a 68-60 victory
over Toyota Otis on Saturday.
Luanzon,
who previously suited up for
Alaska
in the pro league, scored nine-of-14 clip from the floor
besides chipping in five rebounds, an assist and a
steal.
With the
feat, the PBL Press Corps named Luanzon the league’s
best.
“He made
the big shots for us,” said coach Lawrence Chongson
after the Raiders halted a three-game losing skid.
Luanzon’s career-high performance surpassed the 30
points set by Noosa Shoes rookie John Wilson this
conference.
His
string of three-pointers came close to the seven
straight triples recorded by Harbour Centre Fil-Am
Solomon Mercado last conference.
Mercado
also earned a nomination for powering the league-leading
Harbour Centre to an 83-72 victory over Burger King that
stretched the four-time champion’s winning streak to
four games.
Before
Luanzon, Pharex guard Ronnie Bughao earned the first
weekly citation given by sports scribes covering the
league. |
