Brunei stint lined up for SEAG team

Amateur basketball top official and Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero plans to send the national men’s basketball team to two international tournaments, including the Brunei Cup next month, as part of its build-up for the 24th SEA Games this December.

“If plans push through, we might be sending the team in two tough tournaments before the Thailand SEA Games,” said Romero. “That way, we can gauge if we have the chance to win the gold medal in the SEA Games.”

Romero has allotted P10 million for the training and participation of the team for the biennial tournament.

BAP-Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas Patrick Gregorio had earlier asked Romero, through his assistant, Erick Arejola, to allow the team to take part in the Brunei Cup where a team in the pro league will also be competing.

“I’m encouraging Mikee to send the team to Brunei next month for two reasons, one they will gain valuable experience there by playing with tough teams invited by the organizers, and two, they will be providing joy to thousand of Filipino migrants,” said Gregorio. Romero, however, stressed that the country’s participation in the Brunei Cup will all depend on the availability of the players.

“If we can form a competitive team for next month’s tournament then there’s no problem,” said Arejola. “We’ll be glad to provide entertainment to Filipino workers there.”

Problem is, some of the collegiate players in their wish list have yet to show up in the tryout. “We can’t just force them to join the tryout because of their obligation to their respective schools,” said Arejola. “I hope they can sort up their schedule so that they can have time for the national team.”

Among the collegiate stars they are considering are La Salle’s Rico Maierhoffer and Ty Tang, San Beda’s Pong Escobal and Yousil Aljamal, University of the East’s Marcy Arellano, Mark Borboran and Elmer Espiritu, and University of Santo Tomas’ Jervy Cruz. Arejola said the team is in need of tall but agile players in the mold of San Miguel’s Danny Seigle and Purefood’s Kerby Raymundo.

Aside from the Brunei Cup, the team is looking at the possibility of taking part in a tournament in Hong Kong.

Chico Lanete, back-to-back Finals MVP of three-peat winner Harbour Centre, has been attending the tryout since it begun Wednesday last week. Jason Castro did not show up yesterday but promised to rejoin the tryout tomorrow.

Among those who attended yesterday’s session were Beau Belga, Ato Morano, Christian Coronel, Khiel Misa, Ryan Araña and Francis Mercado.