UNHEARD: COACH BACULI HAS YET TO RECEIVE NEWS FROM NORWOOD

by Joel Orellana
Business Mirror
September 26, 2007

Gabe Norwood has only two weeks left to decide if he’ll keep his promise of playing for the national team to the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.

National team head coach Junel Baculi told BusinessMirror they haven’t heard anything from Norwood if he will return to the country and join the national hopefuls in their every day scrimmages at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

“Right now, wala kaming balita kasi management ang kumakausap sa kanya,” said Baculi yesterday after their practice.

“If he’s really willing to serve the country, we’re more than willing to accept him. Kasi kapag bansa ang dinadala mo, dapat nasa puso ang pagsali mo dito,” Baculi added.

The SEAG Task Force has set an October 6 deadline for all the national sports associations (NSAs) to submit their final lineup for the SEA Games.

Norwood, the former George Mason University standout, is reportedly eyeing a stint in Europe to play as an import and may forgo his RP team stint.

RP team manager Eric Arejola of Harbour Centre confirmed that the six-foot-five Filipino-American guard has such plans, but they are still hopeful that he will return to the country.

“He submitted his papers for the PBL draft which means he has plans to come back here,” said Arejola. “But I think, with or without him, the team is very much prepared for the SEA Games.”

The PBL Draft will be held this Friday although Norwood can be drafted even if he is not around. Magnolia is trying to make an arrangement with Hapee, the team that will select first, to land Norwood.

Baculi, who will be in his first SEA Games stint, admitted Norwood’s presence would be a big boost to their bid of retaining the SEA Games gold medal.

“’Yung experience niya sa FIBA-Asia malaking bagay ’yun. He already competed against the best teams in Asia that’s why he’ll be a big factor to the team,” said Baculi.

Norwood was part of the Chot Reyes-mentored national squad that finished ninth in the FIBA-Asia Championships in Tokushima, Japan last month.

When asked if he has given a deadline for Norwood, Baculi said: “Wala naman pero kung November dumating, mukhang malabo na kasi malapit na ang competition.”

Right now, Baculi has 14 players in the pool and is still awaiting a few standouts from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and University Athletic Association of the Philippine (UAAP).

“Gumaganda na ang composition ng team kasi. In the next few days, si Jervy Cruz [of University of Santo Tomas], sasama na sa ensayo,” he stated.

Baculi is also keeping an eye on San Beda’s Pong Escobal, Letran’s Bryan Facundo, Ateneo’s Ford Arao and La Salle’s Rico Maierhofer.

Adamson hotshot Patrick Cabahug and National University triggerman Jonathan Fernandez had joined the team after their respective schools got eliminated from the UAAP.

Other hopefuls are Jerwin Gaco, ex-PBA veterans Allan Salangsang, Ato Morano and Boyet Bautista, Beau Belga, Jason Ballesteros, Jason Castro, Eric de la Cuesta, Richard Alonzo, Lawrence Bonus and Nestor David.

Baculi will be assisted by Letran head coach Louie Alas and Ryan Dy. The team will play as a guest team in the coming PBL tournament.