Youth 5 launches Olympic dream

Tao Corporation and Nokia Philippines formally launched yesterday their partnership with the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, agreeing to put up no less than P76 million to fund a long-term program that could lead to the Philippines’ stint in the 2012 London Olympics.

Coach Franz Pumaren presented the 16 members of the Nokia RP Youth training pool in the same well-attended affair at Teatrino in Greenhills.

Gabriel Banal, Jairold Flores, Ryan Roose Garcia, Frank Golla Jr., Mark Joel de Guzman, Mark Anthony Lopez, Jed Bryan Manguera, Samuel Joseph Marata, Jaypee Mendoza, Mark Jovet Mendoza, Philip Paredes, Jerome Ramos, John Rey Sumido, Jeric Allen Teng, Joseph Terso and Joseph Emmanuel Tolentino are the hopefuls for the SEABA Youth Championship in Malaysia in May and the Asian Youth joust in Iran in September.

Tao Corp. and Nokia Phils. are fully backing the programs of the SBP under incumbent president Manny V. Pangilinan but reserve the right to terminate their sponsorship contract with the SBP should there be a change in the federation’s leadership.

SBP executive director Patrick Gregorio said their good sponsors entered into an agreement with them since they believe in the leadership of Pangilinan.

“If each one believes in the program, I do believe it can happen,” said Nokia Philippines chief William Hamilton-Whyte.

The RP Youth training pool is aligned with the National Youth Training Center programs which the SBP leaders hope will pave the way to achieve their ambitious bid of a return stint in the Olympics.

A stint in the PBL and an extensive two-week training in the United States are the immediate activities by the RP youth team to be funded by Tao Corp. and Nokia.

Pumaren is not closing the door on the entry of Fil-foreign players. He said they have already identified some talents in the US.

Gregorio said the idea of putting up a team this early and developing these players at a young age is to immediately prepare them for major international tournaments.

“The most important thing is to establish chemistry among them. By 2009, we are hoping to have a team capable of doing good in the 2010 world championship qualifier. The same team will play in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China,” said Gregorio.

“We’ve come together to provide our nation with a program that will mentor our youth to become world-class basketball players, to become outstanding citizens, to instill in their hearts a passion to compete honorably, to be humble in victory and to represent the Philippines with pride and integrity,” said Tao Corp. president Jun Sy.

“We agreed that this basketball program shall be founded on love for country, passion for the game, leadership, integrity and commitment to excellence. We want to influence this nation with a spirit of nationalism and proud in our heritage as Filipinos,” Sy added.

Practically everyone agreed that it won’t be an easy journey but it can be done.

“Definitely it can be done as proven by Iran in the last Olympic qualifier in Tokushima, Japan. The core of their champion team were former youth players put together in a long-term program,” said Gregorio.