SBP’s Pangilinan exhorts Ateneo to
represent the country well in the Jones Cup
by rick olivares
MANILA, PHILIPPINES -- Manuel V.
Pangilinan, Chairman Emeritus of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas met with
the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles during a sendoff prior to the 40th
staging of the William Jones Cup wherein the defending UAAP champions and
titlists in three preseason tournaments will represent the country in the
annual cage meet.
“With the ongoing season for the
Philippine Basketball Association where all our national players are still
participating, and our Gilas Cadets all seeing action in various leagues, we
felt that it was best to send a team that has performed well and has the
cohesion to compete,” said Pangilinan.
The William Jones Cup will be
held from 14-22 July at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
The appointment of Ateneo comes
at a time when the national team is taxed to the limit given the ongoing Fiba
investigations after the incident between the Philippines and Australia last
July 2.
Veteran national and former
Ateneo coach Joe Lipa confirmed that this is the first time that a collegiate
squad will represent the country. The previous iterations might have had a more
La Salle flavor to the Northern Consolidated Squad but it also featured stars
from other schools such as San Beda and Letran as well as some naturalized
players.
“The task will not be easy,”
underscored Pangilinan. “Other teams will also send their collegians but most
will feature senior or junior national teams aided by imports. But that is how
we as Filipinos go about it – as underdogs with a sense of purpose and a
determination to prove our worthwhile representing our country. In my opinion,
that is a powerful combination.”
Former Philippine national coach
Tab Baldwin, who is currently the Ateneo mentor will oversee the Ateneo team’s
campaign. The Filipinos will only have freshman center Angelo Kouame from Ivory
Coast to battle the foreign behemoths.
Baldwin might possibly activate 6’5”
Filipino-Canadian Matthew Daves to give the Philippines some additional ceiling
for the tournament.
“All we can do is give our very
best and hope for the best,” summed up Pangilinan.
The campaign of the Ateneo team
to the 40th William Jones Cup is sponsored by Smart Sports.
No comments:
Post a Comment