Fil-foreign hopefuls fail to live up to hype

Malaya
September 22, 2007

Four Fil-foreigners trying out for the national cage team set to defend the crown in the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December have failed to live up to the hype and would most likely be cut when the coaching staff announces the final roster next month.

A source within the team yesterday said Filipino-Americans Kevin Dalafu, Kevyn White, and Richard Cole, and Filipino-Iranian Amir Mazarei have failed to meet the expectations of the coaching staff led by Junel Baculi.

This development means only Gabe Norwood, formerly of George Mason University who played for the national team in the FIBA-Asia in Japan, could be the only Fil-Am in the team—if he makes good on his promise to suit up for the squad.

Baculi and his chief lieutenant, according to the source, are ready to come up with an All-Filipino roster if Norwood is not available.

Although the four Fil-foreigners have vowed to play their hearts out in the biennial meet set on Dec. 6-16 in Thailand, Baculi is still keenly awaiting for a wide-bodied banger who can shoot from the outside and dominate the shaded lane, according to the source.

The same source said local gunners, led by two-time PBL MVP Jason Castro and former Purefoods guard Boyet Bautista, are better than the four Filipino-foreign aspirants.

Baculi also admitted his backcourt rotation is already crowded with veterans.

"Although nothing is final, medyo buo na ‘yung backcourt ko. What I need right now is a big man who can defend, run and shoot. We are still eyeing some from the UAAP and the NCAA, but I can’t divulge their names at the moment," he said.

Baculi added the likes of La Salle’s Rico Maierhofer and UST’s Jervy Cruz could be a big factor underneath to help his hard-defending, but undersized, big men composed of Jerwin Gaco, Chad Alonso and Beau Belga.