Cebu all-star collegiate hoop squad to represent PH in China

THE BASKETBALL Association of the Philippines (BAP)  along with the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) will be sending a Cebu All-Star collegiate squad to represent the country in basketball in the 26th Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, China this August.

This was announced in a press conference yesterday held at the Hotel Fortuna, which was attended by a who’s-who of the BAP and FESSAP including BAP president, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Also present were Fessap president David Ong, Philippine Delegation Chef de Mission to the Shenzhen Universiade Alvin Tai Lian, BAP regional director, Lorenzo “Chao” Sy, Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) officials Felix Tiukinhoy and lawyer Baldomero Estenzo, FESSAP executive vice president Prof. Robert Milton Calo, BAP treasurer Tony Fabico, and Tisha Abundo, FESSAP vice president, who once donned the Philippine colors as part of the women’s volleyball team to the 1967 Tokyo Universiade.

“It’s time to showcase your talents to the world and be ambassadors of good will. Show them how we play basketball over here in the Philippines,” said Trillanes during his speech.

He added that the BAP is moving towards reorganizing in such a way to put a thrust more in the development of grassroots basketball.

According to Estenzo, they will be holding tryouts for the squad, which will be composed of players from the Cesafi. He will still be asking the different school players if they are willing to lend their players for the squad. They are currently looking at Cid Cortes and Giovanni Padillo of the University of San Carlos (USC), Eleazar Armecin and Rene Pacquiao of Southwestern University (SWU) and Harold Cincoflores of the University of the Visayas (UV).

Should the other schools relent, he said that they will have to send the rest of the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, which features 6-foot-10 center Junemar Fajardo, to the Universiade.

A total of 24 countries will see action in the men’s basketball competitions, led by defending champion Serbia.  The Philippines is bracketed in Group C with 2009 runner-up Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Japan and New Zealand. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio