"Now that we’ve started the program and lay the foundation we needed, it’s time to do serious business," said Danny Francisco, assistant to basketball patriarch Jean Henri Lhuillier, as he presented the final 19-man training pool team in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion.
Making it as regular members of the squad, personally handpicked by coaches Boyzie Zamar and Dong Vergeire in a nationwide, series of tryouts dubbed ‘Tryouts ng Bayan,’ are Samigue Eman, Nino Canaleta, Jayson Tiongson, Robert Geron, Eder John Saldua, Wilbert Sayson, Jay Gerilla, Jerry Cavan, Rainward Ramos, Mark Abadia, Ronrez Villamin, Joel Co, Ephraim Torio, Alvin Somanqui Aguilar and Sammy Ayodele, a 6-foot-3 Filipino-Nigerian based in Baguio City.
Together they will join the four holdovers of the RP team that won the cage gold in last year’s Southeast Asian Games–Ricky Calimag, Richie Melencio, Celino Cruz and Dennis Madrid.
Named to the developmental pool are Patrick Tiongco, Rolly Menor, Charles Tan, Arnold Booker, Rey Mendez and Wynston John Te.
Zamar said members of the developmental pool serve as alternates in case any members of the team is unavailable.
Francisco, who was accompanied by both Zamar and Vergeire in the Red Bull, Agfa Colors and PAGCOR-sponsored forum, said Mr. Lhuillier is looking to keep the team intact for the next four years in the hope of representing the country in major international events like the SEA Games and the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) championships.
He bared the cagers are set to be housed at the Ambassador Philippine J. Lhuillier Sports Complex gym in Las Piñas while at the same time, educational grants will also be provided.
The team’s first big test will come in July when it sees action in the Jones Cup on July 23-30 in Taiwan.
International exposures are also included in the team’s calendar, with probable stints in Yugoslavia, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.