Two Doves tapped for national team

St. Francis of Assisi big men Ranidel de Ocampo and Erwin Sotto may become last-minute additions to the Philippine basketball team competing in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) men’s championship Aug. 18-23 in Cebu.

National coach Aric del Rosario disclosed this to The STAR after his initial talk with St. Francis coach Gabby Velasco.

"Okay na kay Gabby. Hihintayin na lang namin ang sagot ng St. Francis," said Del Rosario on the prospect of De Ocampo and Sotto suiting up for the national squad.

The 6-foot-8 De Ocampo and 6-foot-7 Sotto were actually part of the original RP training team. De Ocampo pulled out due to an injury while Sotto followed suit reportedly on the prodding of his agent-manager.

"Naghahanap ng pera yung manager. Eh, ano naman ang ibibigay namin, national team ito," said Del Rosario.

The national team lost depth on the UAAP board’s decision disallowing players from members schools to play in the PBA Invitational, SEABA and ABC jousts.

Meanwhile, after being blown off the court by San Miguel Beer last week, the RP Team vented its ire on the visiting Magnolia-Jilin Yi Qi last night and scored a 114-91 victory in the 2003 Samsung-PBA Invitational Cup at the Astrodome.

Bannered by hot-shooting Gary David, the Nationals displayed a sleek running game and some torrid shooting as they broke loose in the second quarter and raced to a 21-point lead in the fourth en route to a 1-1 record.

The victory came a week after the Nationals suffered an embarrassing 40-point loss to the Beermen during the opening day of the three-week tournament which drew three foreign squads, including one from Yugoslavia and another from Chinese-Taipei.

The loss was the second for the Chinese following an 82-97 decision against Alaska last Wednesday.

"Nakakahiya yung nangyari sa amin sa San Miguel kaya sabi namin hindi dapat matalo sa foreign team.

"Tinakbuhan lang namin sila. Malaking tulong ito para sa kumpiyansa ng mga bata," said Del Rosario, so enthusiastic in handling the squad that will also try to regain the title in the Vietnam SEA Games this December.

"Siyempre gustong-gusto ko ito dahil kung kailan na ako pa-retire eh doon pa ako nabigyan ng chance mag- coach ng RP team. Bandera na ang hawak ko dito," added the 63-year-old mentor who had to excuse himself from this year’s UAAP where he should be calling the shots for Santo Tomas.

Chinese coach Gao Shumin did not attend the post-game interview but cager Ma Jian, the former PBL import who almost made it to the 1995 NBA season, gladly accommodated the local press.

In the second game, Red Bull downed FedEx, 75-70.

"We come here and try to do the best that we can. This is a young team but the chemistry is still not there," said the 35-year-old Ma, who abandoned the Chinese national team just to try his luck in the NBA.

"I just joined this team for this tournament because I love the Philippines. I always like to come here and play," he added.