SEA junior caging to go on despite Indons’pullout

Despite the last-minute pullout of Indonesia, the fourth Southeast Asia Junior Basketball Championship will go on as scheduled at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City, Quezon April 14-19.

BAP secretary-general Graham Lim said Indonesia’s sudden decision to pull out of the week-long competition will hardly affect the quality of the competition since defending champion Malaysia is still around, while Thailand and Singapore are expected to send strong teams.

"We’ll push through with the tournament because we’ve already committed to it. It would have been nice if the Indonesians are here, pero hindi sila ang mahigpit na kalaban.

The Philippine team, whose members were culled from the country’s topnotch leagues, is raring to wrest the title from Malaysia, which won the crown last year when the event was held in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore cagers are expected to arrive within the next two days in time for the opening of the tournament organized by the Basketball Association of the Philippines and the local governments of Lucena City and the province of Quezon.

Expected to grace the brief opening rites are Quezon Gov. Willie Enverga, Lucena City Mayor Ramon Talaga and BAP officials headed by Quinteliano Literal.

Also invited to attend the opening ceremony is Philippine Olympic chairman Robert Aventajado.

The RP Youth Team, led by junior standouts Kevin Astorga, Mike Baldos, Mike Sy, Ogie Menor, JR Taganas, Jayson Castro and Mark Eubank, has just wrapped up a week-long team-building session and a series of tune-up matches in Baguio City and will travel down to Lucena City in time for the tournament proper. (Related story left column)

The team will be handled by coach Johnny Tam and his assistants Ching Marcelino and Brit Reroma.