Hapee wants Norwood or Cruz

People's Journal
September 27, 2007

HAPEE TOOTHPASTE, hoping to relive its glory days, is torn between two bright rookie prospects — an athletic Fil-Am player and a pure Filipino talent.

Picking first in the PBL Rookie Draft slated tomorrow, Hapee team manager Bernard Yang said they will pick either NCAA veteran Gabe Norwood or forward Jervy Cruz of University of Santo Tomas.

“It’s not going to be an easy decision for us because the two are perhaps the best players in this year’s batch of rookies,” said Yang. “Norwood is the kind of player we want because of his athleticism, while Jervy is strong and versatile.”

Yang, however, said he will still talk first to Lamoiyan Corp. and incoming PBL Chairman Cecilio Pedro before making a final decision tomorrow. He also said that Pedro is aching to regain its once lofty status in the league.

The PBL Rookie Draft will be held tomorrow at the Penthouse of the East Tower of the Phil. Stock Exchange Centre in Pasig City.

The other concern of Hapee management is that Norwood is not yet in the country. Yang said the team is now deep in training for the opening of the Invitational Cup slated last week of October.

There were reports that the 6-foot-5 Norwood has just signed up a lucrative deal with a European ball club.

Norwood, whose grandmother is a pure Filipina, played for George Mason University that made it to the US NCAA Finals against Louisiana State University in 2004.

When told about the latest news on Norwood, Yang said: “I will still verify it and that’s also the reason why I’m trying to find his agent here.”

Norwood is also being eyed to reinforce the Harbour Centre-backed Philippine team that will play in the 24th SEA Games in Thailand this December.

Before Harbour Centre lorded over the league it won three straight championships Hapee Toothpaste and bitter rival Welcoat Paints (now in the pro league) took turns in ruling the country’s premier amateur league.

Its most memorable year was in 2003 when the team, backstopped then by Rich Alvarez, Larry Fonacier, Eugene Tan, LA Tenorio and Peter June Simon, won
back-to-back titles, including against the James Yap-led Welcoat Paints.