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PSN Palaro

Ekwe handang maglaro sa RP -5

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Matapos magsilbi sa San Beda College kung saan siya naging malaking bahagi ng ‘three peat’ ng Red Lions sa National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), ang posibleng pagsusuot ng Philippine colors ang inaasam naman ni Nigerian Sam Ekwe.

Ayon sa 6-foot-8 na si Ekwe, handa siyang maglaro para sa RP Team ni head coach Yeng Guiao kung mabibigyan siya ng pagkakataon.  

“I’m really willing to play for the Philippine team if they want my services. I think I can be a good help for the team,” sabi ni Ekwe, nadiskubre ng isang Filipino priest sa Enegu State, Nigeria bago inirekomenda kay Jude Roque ng San Beda.

Sa katatapos na 84th NCAA men’s basketball tournament na pinagharian ng Red Lions kontra Jose Rizal U Heavy Bombers, nagtumpok si Ekwe ng mga averages na 16.0 puntos, 14.2 rebounds, 2.1 shotblocks at 1.2 steals. 

Inihayag na kamakailan ni Guiao na naghahanap siya ng mga seven-footers na gagawing ‘naturalized players’ na nauna nang ginawa ni American mentor Ron Jacobs noong 1980’s kung saan naglaro para sa Nationals sina Americans Chip Engeland, Jeff Moore at Dennis Steel.

“We don’t know yet the process for naturalization, but all I know is that we must get a big man,” wika ni Guiao. “We have to have the seven-footers to match up with the other seven-footers.” 

Bago kunin si Ekwe, may kursong Marketing and Communications Program sa San Beda, gusto munang linawin ni PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios ang sinasabing ipinatutupad na patakaran ng FIBA-Asia ukol sa pagkuha ng isang bansa sa mga ‘naturalized cagers’.  

“Ang sabi kasi sa akin, wala na daw ‘yung two-year minimum notification. But anyway, we will still have to check dahil ayaw naman nating madapa sa technicalities. We will confirm kung ano talaga ang ruling ng FIBA regarding that matter,” wika ni Barrios.

Ang Top Three teams sa 2009 FIBA-Asia Men’s Championships ang siyang aabante sa 2010 World Basketball Championships sa Istanbul, Turkey.  (RCadayona)

AMERICANS CHIP ENGELAND

ANG TOP THREE

ASIA MEN

COMMISSIONER SONNY BARRIOS

DENNIS STEEL

EKWE

RED LIONS

SAN BEDA

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