Fil-Iran star in RP 5 tryouts today

By Joaquin Henson
The Philippine Star
Monday, September 10, 2007



Fil-Iranian sharpshooter Amir Javier Mazarei is showing up for the 11 a.m. Philippine team practice at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum today and from all indications, he’ll breeze through the tryouts set by coach Junel Baculi to choose the players representing the country at the Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok in December.

Mazarei, 22, arrived from Los Angeles with Filipina mother Erlinda Javier of Paco and sports agent Roger Jimenez on an Eva Air flight late Saturday morning.

“I’m looking forward to playing for the Philippine team,” said Mazarei yesterday morning during a break from shooting baskets at the Sterling Life Subdivision court in Pamplona, Las Piñas. “It’s a great opportunity and an honor. If I’m given the chance, I hope to be able to contribute to the team.”

National team manager Erick Arejola said he’s eager to see how Mazarei performs in today’s scrimmages. Harbour Centre owner and national team godfather Mikee Romero might check out the tryouts if his schedule allows.

Arejola said he expects other players to attend the tryouts supervised by Baculi, Ryan Dy and Louie Alas. He named former Purefoods guard Boyet Bautista, Eric Rodriguez of Letran, Ford Arao of Ateneo and Fil-Am Kevin Delafu of Vanguard University as among those who expressed interest in attending. He said Talk ’N’ Text guard Jimmy Alapag is sending his Fil-Am cousin to try out, too.

Arejola mentioned that Christian Coronel and Dennis Daa, who played for the national team in Brunei recently, are now training with Sta. Lucia Realty. Still in the national pool are former pros Allan Salangsang and Ato Morano.

Arejola said when the UAAP and NCAA wars are over, there will be more players trying out for spots in Baculi’s roster. “We hope players like Cabahug, Fernandez, Escobal and Maierhofer will join us,” he said. “We can build a very competitive pool.”

The 5-10 Mazarei led the three US NCAA divisions in three-point scoring last season. He averaged 28.6 points and 6.2 three-point conversions a game as a senior for the University of Redlands varsity.

“I played point guard in high school and offguard in college,” said Mazarei who shot a career-high 57 points against Occidental College in the 2005-06 season. “My passing skills are okay but I think I shoot better than I pass.”

Mazarei said he was introduced to the game by his Iranian father Mahdi.

“When I was seven, my dad took me to play in a league,” said Mazarei. “My dad was my first coach and biggest influence. I’ve been playing ever since. All my life, I’ve been shooting the ball so I guess I just got good at it.”


(Mazarei with his parents and the coaching staff)


Mazarei said he teamed with older brother Adam, who is 5-8, for two years at Redlands. “Adam played point guard so he passed the ball a lot to me to score,” said Mazarei. “He’s now coaching a club team.” Mazarei is the third of four children, all boys.

Last year, Mazarei came to Manila for the first time. “The heat was rough,” he recalled. “But I had a good time with my grandparents, uncle (Benjie) and three cousins. I don’t think I’ll have a hard time adjusting to Philippine conditions when I’m playing.”

Mazarei said he was informed of the coming PBL draft.

“I don’t know what’s ahead for me,” said Mazarei. “All I know is I want to play in the Philippines and hopefully, enjoy a long career. I leave it up to Roger to determine what to do. If I’m eligible, I’d like to join the PBL draft and later the PBA draft. My priority at the moment is to try to play for the national team.”

Jimenez described Mazarei as a can’t-miss proposition.

“This boy is the real thing,” said Jimenez. “He plays like Mark Caguioa. He’s an impact player. I’ve coached Mark, Tony de la Cruz, Alex Cabagnot and Don Allado in Fil-Am leagues in Los Angeles and I’m convinced Amir can hold his own in the PBA.”

Mazarei broke the Redlands varsity all-time career records in scoring, field goals and steals in four years with the Bulldogs. He improved his scoring norm every year from 15.4 as a freshman to 20.9 as a sophomore to 24.8 as a junior and to 28.6 as a senior.

Mazarei’s mother Erlinda, an accountant, has two brothers one of whom Benjie lives in Las Piñas where the Fil-Iranian hotshot is now staying.