Coach on lookout for tall players in RP U-16

Nokia RP Under-16 team coach Eric Altamirano yesterday said the national squad will be needing tall players as open tryouts are set Jan. 2-4 at the Jacinto Tiu Court at Xavier School in Greenhills, San Juan.

“We will also be in the lookout for big players who can play inside, rebound and run the floor,”said Altamirano on the three-day tryouts scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Altamirano earlier said sound fundamentals, quickness and good outside shooting are the general considerations for anyone who wants to be a part of the team. The cut-off birthday is January 1, 1993 or later.

“The formation of the team is, of course, always in the context of the competition not only in Southeast Asia but also in the Asian region where we will be up against tall, strong, quick and fundamentally-sound rivals,” explained Altamirano, a former University of the Philippines (UP) Maroon, Purefoods champion coach and assistant coach of the Philippine team to the 2002 Busan Asian Games.

Actually, some of these players to make up the Nokia RP U-16 are seen to come from the ongoing National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League.

“But of course, I am not discounting that there are talents out there who will just walk in during the tryouts and make the team, “said Altamirano as he emphasized anew the support of Nokia Philippines and TAO Corporation.

The Nokia RP Under-16 team will be fielded in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) youth tournament in May after which the top two placers will be seeded in the FIBA-Asia 16-Under Tournament.

Altamirano said that should any of these players excel further, a stint in the 2012 London Olympics is possible if the Philippines finally makes it after a long hiatus following the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Altamirano’s predecessor, coach Franz Pumaren, piloted the Nokia RP Youth team to first place in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) tournament and seventh place in the Asian championship after beating eventual tournament champion Iran.

Members of that team were Norbert Torres, Mark de Guzman, RR Garcia, Kyle Pascual, Ian Paul Sangalang, Philip Paredes, Matthew Wright, Gabriel Banal, Frank Golla, Jaypee Mendoza, Jhon Sumido, Joseph Terso, Samuel Marata and Jed Manguera.

Inquiries: Ms. Love Viray, SBP office at 706-2969 to 70, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.