Stranges Papo Movie, honed by consistent strong finishes in various European Leagues, including the Super Cup which they won last year, will arrive tomorrow for the weekend tourney featuring a team from Iran and coach Chot Reyes’ national training pool, to be divided into two squads.
Handling the Italian team is Andrea Annese, who brought the squad to the national finals two years ago and was an assistant in the bronze medal team during the European championship in 2001.
Comprising Pirelli Stranges Papo Movie team, named in memory of its patron Riccardo Stranges and sponsored by Pirelli are: Marco Balzarotti, 21, 1.90 meters, small forward; Oscar Bordin, 24, 1.95 meters, power forward; Marco Beppato, 21, 1.97, small forward; Angelo Casellato, 27, 1.95 meters, power forward; Stefano Cislaghi, 19, 1.85 meters, point guard; Matteo Marmonti, 21, 1.86 meters, shooting guard; Oscar Mazzocco, 21, 2.05, center; Fabrizio Meda, 19, 1.76, point guard; Marco Rho, 21, 2.00, center, Aleandro Erminio, and Garry Panganiban.
No credentials were available for Erminio and Panganiban, as well as their country of origin.
PBA Commissioner Noli Eala welcomed the arrival of the Italians.
The three-day meet, the first official tournament to be participated in by the Nationals, will have its opening at the Araneta Coliseum. General Admission section and Upper Box B will be free to the public.
"This is our way of returning the RP team to the fans," said Eala, who is encouraging basketball fans to support this endeavor.
Reyes has yet to come out with the official RP team lineup and would use this pocket tournament to help narrow down his choice from among two dozen hopefuls.
The tournament also serves as tune-up game for the Nationals, who are preparing for the Champions Cup which the country will host next month and the Jones Cup in Taipei in July.