MANILA, Philippines - Bumiyahe na kagabi ang isang 15-man Nokia RP U-18 pool patungong United States para sumailalim sa isang pagsasanay sa ilalim ni college mentor at dating National Basketball Association (NBA) assistant coach Ed Schilling bilang paghahanda sa Under-18 basketball championships na nakatakda sa Setyembre 22 hanggang Oktubre 1 sa Yemen.
Ang mga miyembro ng national pool na gigiyahan ni coach Eric Altamirano ay sina Russel Escoto, Kevin Ferrer, Jeth Troy Rosario, Von Pessumal, Michael Pate, Gwyne Capacio, Mike Tolomia, Jeron Teng, Joshua Angelo Alolino, Roldan Sara, Cederick Labing-isa, Paolo Romero, Raphael Banal, Kiefer Ravena at Kyle Neypes.
Sina Ferrer, Pessumal, Pate, Tolomia, Teng, Alolino, Sara, Labingisa, Romero at Ravena ay dating mga miyembro ng Nokia RP U-16 team na umabante sa semifinals ng 2009 Fiba-Asia U-16 Championships sa Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Pinalakas naman nina Nokia Philippines general manager Benoit Nalin, TAO Corporation president Jun Sy at Head ng Nokia Pilipinas Youth Basketball Program Joel Lopa ang loob ng koponan.
“You are not only doing this for yourself but for your country,” wika ni Nalin, habang sinabi naman ni Sy na “the Nokia RP U-18 team should be the face of hope for the Filipino youth today.”
Kumpiyansa naman si Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala na maraming matututunan ang koponan sa kanilang US training.
“As they say, many are called but few are chosen. I hope you will cherish this distinct privilege given to you to play given you to play for the Motherland and take pride in the fact that you are playing for the Filipino dream,”ani Eala.