Philippine Sports News and Updates

Manila, Philippines -- A youthful team whipped into form by a young coach.

This is the kind of squad Pharex Health Corp. envisions to form in its debut in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) next season.

Carlo Tan, a 31-year-old former coach of Xavier high school, was tapped to mentor Pharex just days after the league unanimously approved its entry.

“All teams, except us, have experience,” said Tan during Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue in Manila. “We’re not thinking of winning right away, we’re thinking of building a team. Gradual improvement is important for us.”

Tan said Mark Borboran of University of the East, Mac Baracael of Far Eastern University and Jonathan Fernandez of National University are among the players in his wish list.

“I like the game of Borboran; I love the way he can mix it up inside and outside,” said Tan during the public sports program sponsored by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and Shakey’s UN Avenue.

“Baracael, he’s showing a lot of promise. He’s a big, strong and athletic guy. Fernandez, the guy can shoot.”

Pharex plans to complete its lineup after the PBL dispersal and rookie drafts set in two weeks. The new season will unfold in October.

“We have to make sure we also secure a good center who can play both offensively and defensively,” said Tan, who played high school basketball in Canada.

Source: Inquirer.net

“We’re really trying to form a quality, competitive team,” added team manager Jean Alabanza, a former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles stalwart.

Team officials said that Pharex, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical firm Pascual Laboratories, has a five-year basketball program.

“If we get good picks, probably in our second year [we can be very competitive],” said Pascual Laboratories division manager Ding Camua. “But if we have luck in this year’s draft, we can be a contender.”

Pharex joins three-time conference champion Harbour Centre, Toyota Balintawak, Magnolia of San Miguel Corp., Wel-Best and Hapee Toothpaste as the league’s regular members.