All-new cage team in works

Three Cebuano and one Davaoeño lads were among those identified this early to fill in the slots vacated by Ranidel de Ocampo and company, underscoring Cebuana Lhuillier’s seriousness and determination to regain lost glory of Philippine basketball in international arena, particularly the Asian level.

University of Visayas’ Joseph Quinahan, Gil Raneses and Rino Berame and University of Mindanao’s Samigue Eman are among the top prospects for the national pool where Cebuana Lhuillier is planning to give extensive training for a possible crack at the 2005 ABC men’s championship which also serves as the qualifying tourney for the next World Basketball Championship.

The team’s chief backer is so serious in its commitment to get RP basketball back on its feet that PJ Lhuillier Inc. special projects manager Danny Francisco has met the coaching staff twice this early in the year, mapping out their plan to tour the whole country in search of young and talented players for the national training pool.

The coaching staff, headed by Aric del Rosario, will conduct tryouts in the country’s key cities starting the last week of January even as Quinahan, Raneses, Berame and Eman are already considered shoo-ins for the pool that already features mainstays Dennis Madrid, Celino, Cruz, Richard Melencio and Ric Calimag.

"We saw their potentials in the Champion’s League. Dapat nga matagal na silang nasa pool, kaya lang gusto muna nilang tapusin ang studies nila. We’ve talked to these players, their school officials and other people concerned. Positive naman ang response," said coach Dong Vergeire.

All four stand no lower than 6-foot-4 with no one over 22 years old. The 6-foot-6 Quinahan is 22, the 6-4 Raneses is 21, 6-7 Berame 17 and 6-9 Eman 20.

"Eman is 6-foot-9 na gustong maglaro sa wing. He’s very agile. Si Quinahan, Little Shaq ang tawag sa Cebu dahil malaki ang katawan at malakas. Si Berame naman ay parang Yao Ming, mataas na marunong mag-dribble at agile. Si Raneses parang si Rey Evangelista, malaki na komportableng mag-dribble at tumakbo," Vergeire described the four players.

Vergeire said they’re also looking at PBL players whose playing contracts with their respective teams are about to expire. He mentioned Ariel Capus of Welcoat and Jondan Salvador of Montaña.

In the PBA, Vergeire said they would consider young, good players who will be left unsigned.

"Not necessarily our players in the last SEA Games. Actually, sisilip kami sa PBA pre-draft camp at ngayon pa lang mino-monitor na namin ang mga nag-apply sa draft," said Vergeire.

Seven members of the triumphant RP team in the Vietnam SEAG joined the draft and all are potential first-round picks. These are De Ocampo, James Yap, Rich Alvarez, Marc Pingris, Ervin Sotto, Wesley Gonzales and Gary David.

Also in the draft pool are ABC campaigners Willy Wilson, Bernzon Franco and Mark Omolon.

"Kung meron hindi masa-sign sa kanila, they’re welcome to return to the pool," said Francisco.

Team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier has said he intends to give the team enormous international exposure to hone them up for a possible good shot at the ABC crown. The team is also looking to win the SEA Games championship right before Filipino fans next year.