Two tall Fil-fors reinforce RP youth
By Nelson Beltran
Saturday, April 12, 2008

Two foreign-based Filipino young behemoths are now sure of beefing up the Nokia RP Youth team in the coming SEABA 18-under championship in Kuala Lumpur with both already securing Philippine passport.

Six-foot-7 Norbert Torres, who obtained his Philippine passport in Toronto, Canada, is arriving today. His parents are from Calumpit, Bulacan, both still Filipino citizens though based in Canada.

Six-foot-six Kyle Pascual, meanwhile, is planing in on April 20 from Los Angeles, California. His father is from Singalong, Manila and his mother from Cebu.

Coach Franz Pumaren met the two players when the RP pool underwent a two-week training in a basketball camp in Carson City, California.

“With the new guys, the complexion of the team improved tremendously. What we lacked before was ceiling. With their entry, I can be flexible. I can play big and I can play small,” said Pumaren.

“One thing nice is that they’ve practiced with us in the US. They can play five (center) or four (power forward). We played with Kyle’s team and he scored 27 points,” Pumaren said.

With the entry of Torres and Pascual, the national pool now has 19 members. Pumaren said he would name the 15 players he’ll bring to Kuala Lumpur by April 26 and the final 12 a day before the tourney.

“With our training in the US and the addition of the two guys, the team now sports a new look. I can say we’ve improved a lot,” Pumaren said.

Other players in the pool are Frank Golla Jr., Jed Manguera, Mark Lopez, Joseph Tolentino, Samuel Joseph Marata, Ryan Roose Garcia, Jover Mendoza, Joseph Terso, Mark Joel de Guzman, Jerome Ramos, Jeric Allen Teng, Gabriel Banal, Jaypee Mendoza, Jhon Sumido, Jairod Flores and Philip Paredes.

“All these players are potential materials for our men’s team,” said Pumaren.



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