New faces to join national cage pool

People's Journal
September 17, 2007

With the collegiate wars almost over, the Harbour Centre-sponsored Philippine team will have new faces in its pool when it resumes training today at the
Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Amateur basketball godfather and Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero said yesterday the presence of UAAP hotshots Jonathan Fernandez of National University and Patrick Cabahug of Adamson will give coach Junel Baculi enough options as to what kind of a team he will form for the 24th SEA Games slated this December in Thailand.

Although Cabahug and Fernandez are considered as two of the finest shooters in the amateur ranks today, they still to prove their worth against other aspirants, including four Fil-foreigners, to secure slots in the national team.

“The RP training pool now has two of the best shooters in the land but they have to go through the process. But judging their performance in the UAAP, I think they will have pretty good chances of making it to the team,” said Romero.

While Fernandez is a spot shooter, the 6-foot-2 Cabahug is catch-and-shoot kind of a player that makes him more dangerous than the other aspirants in the team.
Cabahug, who plays for Toyota Balintawak in the PBL, is averaging more than 25 points a game for the Falcons.

The 6-foot Fernandez has already proven his worth many times, including helping Harbour Centre-RP team win the SEABA Club Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia last April.

He also keyed the stunning win of NU over Ateneo last Saturday – their first in seven years -- where he fired 24 points.

Erick Arejola, tasked by Romero to monitor the training, said they are also eyeing several top UAAP and NCAA players to join the training.

“We watch the Final Four of the NCAA and we’re hoping to include San Beda’s Pong Escobal in the training pool,” said Arejola. “Escobal is one of the best shooting guards in the NCAA.”

Aside from Fil-Am Gabe Norwood, Romero and Arejola said they are also considering Jervy Cruz, the versatile center of University of Santo Tomas, to join the training pool.

“If we can get Norwood and some of the big men in the UAAP, we will have a good chance of retaining the SEA Games title,” said Romero, who openly sought the help of some sectors to provide the team agile and disciplined big men.

So far only Harbour Centre’s Jason Castro and Beau Belga are certain to make it to the RP team, which is out to defend its title against tough squads from Indonesia, Malaysian and host Thailand.

Also trying out in the team are San Miguel-Magnolia’s Jeff Chan, Toyota Balintawak’s Erick Rodriguez and Eugene Tan, Harbour’s Jerwin Gaco, Josh Urbiztondo, Nestor David, Lawrence Bonus, and former PBA players Ato Morano and Allan Salangsang.

Others are Fil-Americans Kevyn White, Kevin Dalafu, Richard Cole and Fil-Iranian Amir Mazarei.