2 more Fil-foreign players joining RP team tryouts

People's Journal
September 10, 2007

Two Fil-foreign players and a former pro will join the tryouts of the Southeast Asian Games-bound Philippine team starting today.

Fil-Iranian Amir Mazarei and Fil-Am Kevin Dalafu are likely to impress the RP coaching staff when they join the other aspirants of the team that will try to defend its title in the coming biennial event slated this December in Thailand.

The RP pool members resume training starting at 11 a.m. at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Amateur basketball godfather and Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero is excited about the presence of the two Fil-foreign players, saying the team badly needs someone who can provide firepower and stability to the team.

“With the departure of most top PBL players to the pro ranks, we really need to beef up our team. We have to be competitive because we have a big mission in the coming SEA Games,” said Romero. “If they’re really good, then we will take them.”

Also joining the tryout is spitfire Boyet Bautista and defensive specialist Erick Rodriguez of Toyota Balintawak.

PBL Commissioner Chino Trinidad said the 5-foot-11 Mazarei could be a big help to the team, owing to his outstanding record at University of Redlands in Thousand Oaks, California.

Mazarei, who arrived in the country Saturday night, shattered the 2,000-point barrier for his school when he fired 42 points against the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in the Southern California Inter-Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Erick Arejola, team manager of the RP team, said Mazarei averaged four triples a game for his school where he posted several firsts.

Last year, Mazarei, 22, set a new Redlands single-game record for points with 57 against then-ranked Occidental College. He was also named to the All-SCIAC First Team after averaging 24.8 points.

Arejola said they’re also eyeing the athletic Gabe Norwood to provide ceiling to the team. The 6-foot-5 Norwood, a former standout of George Mason University, played for the San Miguel-backed Philippine team in the recent FIBA-Asia Championship in Japan.

A relative of Talk N Text point guard Jimmy Alapag has also expressed interest in joining the tryouts.

“We don’t know his identity yet but I’m sure he’s also a good shooter,” said Arejola.

So far, only PBL back-to-back MVP Jason Castro and 6-foot-6 center Beau Belga are assured of slots on the national team.