FedEx squad to represent RP in Dubai caging

Renewing its commitment to RP basketball, FedEx will represent the country for the third straight time in the 2002 Ajax Open international basketball championship scheduled Jan.3-10 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Johnny Tam, who steered the Bobby Parks-reinforced Laguna Lakers to the Cheng Zhenggong international invitational tournament title in Nanan, China in 1999, has been tapped by the Basketball Association of the Philippines as coach.

"It's really a big privilege and an honor for me to be given a chance to handle the team again," said Tam, who will be assisted by Ching Marcelino.

Philippine Basketball Association aspirant Christian Nicdao, a FedEx Laguna standout in the Metropolitan Basketball Association, and TPG-Davao’s Ryan Bernardo lead the team cast, which includes Jean Marc Pingris, Loreto Tolentino and Archer Calacar.

The 6’6" Pingris and the 6’2" Calacar are both out of PSBA while the 5’11" Tolentino is part of the College of St. Benilde squad that won the 2000 National Collegiate Athletic Association cage title.

Also backstopping the team are two reinforcements from the United States, who will join the team on its arrival Jan. 1.