PBL all-star joins Qatar caging

While in the middle of a three-month break, the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) has formed a star-studded selection that will represent the country in a tough international tournament scheduled in Qatar Aug. 5-13.

Commissioner Chino Trinidad said during yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion it will be the first time in almost five years that a PBL selection will go out of the country for a multi-nation tournament.

"It’s already a victory in itself for the PBL because being invited to this tournament means that the organizers believe in our program. That’s why we’re not passing up on this opportunity," said Trinidad.

The youthful PBL chief said they received the invitation just last month, giving them little time to form a selection that’s been practicing for three weeks now under champion coach Junel Baculi of Hapee Toothpaste.

Trinidad added that Team PBL was allowed to bring in an import but they decided otherwise to give the locals the chance to compete overseas. An all-Pinoy lineup, he said, is also expected to sit well with the large Filipino community in Qatar.

The players are Cesar Catli, Warren Ybañez, Jayson Misolas, Neil Raneses and Joel Co of Viva; Chester Tolomia, JR Reyes and Marvin Ortiguerra of Welcoat; Mark Macapagal and Reed Juntilla of Hapee; Froilan Baguion and Jondan Salvador of Montana; Aaron Daa of Toyota Otis-Letran; and Jam Alfad of Blu Star.

Butch Maniego, executive assistant to the commissioner, is head of delegation while businessman-sportsman Bernard Yang is team manager. The team leaves for Qatar on Aug. 3.

"We’ll be there fighting. The time constraint in forming this team might give us problems to gel but we’re doing our best even in practice," said Baculi of his unit that will go up against teams from Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and possibly Lebanon.

Trinidad said the country’s top collegiate players were no longer considered for the team because of the ongoing UAAP and NCAA tournaments.

"They’re out of this and so we have to make do with the players available. But we really expect to do well in this tournament. What we have here is a competent crew," added the PBL commissioner during the forum sponsored by Red Bull, Agfa and Pagcor.