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SBP National Team unveiled
Written by staff   
Friday, 20 March 2009 06:55

Ateneo de Manila University hotshot Chris Tiu was chosen skipper The Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team was unveiled the other night as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officially launched its campaign to bring the country back to the Olympics in 2012.

SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan and executive director Noli Eala presented the 14 players chosen mainly from the UAAP and the NCAA in a glittering ceremony at Teatrino in Greenhills, San Juan City.

“It’s about time we get back on the (international) stage and put the Philippines on the world map,” said Pangilinan, who pointed out that the national dribblers haven’t been to the Olympics since 1972. “Today, the quest begins for the Olympics,” added the chair of telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Smart Communications Inc.

Ateneo de Manila University hotshot Chris Tiu was chosen skipper of the young squad whose members have committed to play for the country for the next three years.

Andy Mark Barroca of Far Eastern University was picked as co-captain of the team to be handled by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, who steered Iran to the Beijing Olympics last year.

“There’s a lot of skepticism surrounding the formation of this team,” said Pangilinan. “There were discouraging remarks, saying we couldn’t compete against taller players from other countries.

“I say, we just have to give it a try.”

The other UAAP stars in the fold are Marnel Baracael, Ricardo Cawaling Jr. and 6-foot-6 Aldreich Ramos of FEU; De La Salle University’s Jayvie Casio; Dylan Ababou of University of Santo Tomas; Ryan Buenafe and Ford Arao of Ateneo, and Magi Sison of University of the Philippines.

The NCAA standouts are RJ Jazul and Rey Guevarra of Letran College and 6-foot-7 Jason Ballesteros of San Sebastian College.

University of Visayas slotman and United States-born Gregory Slaughter, the tallest at 6-foot-11, completes the roster.

“We should congratulate these players for making great sacrifices for the country,” said Pangilinan. “Our objective is the 2012 London Olympics and to qualify is already a big achievement.”

The Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team will compete in several international tournaments prior to the Olympics. The biggest test, however, will be the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championships, the qualifying tournament for the London Games where two Asian slots are at stake.

“(2011) is a big year for us,” said Eala.

The Philippines last won the Asian Championships in 1986 with the Northern Consolidated Cement-RP team handled by American coach Ron Jacobs.
 
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