BASKETBALL fans will have something to look forward to this weekend as the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas Men’s developmental basketball team plays an exhibition match against Cebu’s winni-ngest basketball team, the M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños at the USC Gym on Saturday.
The team, developed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) for the 2012 London Olympics qualifying tournament under the tutelage of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, will make its first appearance in Cebu with UV Green Lancers pride and main attraction Gregg Slaughter in tow.
“It’s going to be a tough game. We will see the future of basketball, the future of the Philippine team coming to play with the Niños,” said Cebu head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba.
Selection
The Smart-Gilas team is made up of the best collegiate players in the country, with only Slaughter coming from a school outside of Manila making it to the list.
Making up the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas team are JV Cassio, Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca, RJ Jazul, Dylan Ababou, JR Cawaling, Rey Guevara, Jason Ballesteros, Mac Baracael, Ryan Buena-fe, Magi Sison, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Ford Arao.
Other players who are in Toroman’s list are expected to join this weekend’s friendly match.
It will be tough for the Niños who just won the Manila leg of the 2009 Smart-Liga Pilipinas as this will be a different game.
“Admittedly, this Gilas team is taller, younger and probably quicker than us. But rest assured we will not let our guards down on this game,” added Alcoseba.
The Smart-Gilas squad had already displayed their wares in public with two exhibition games against PBA teams during the recent PBA finals and played against a Liga Pilipinas team last Saturday in Manila.
Before that, the same team won the 1st China-Asean CBO Men’s Invitational Tournament championship title in Guangxi, China in December last year. (RCM)
Peek at RP hoops? future this Saturday | Sun.Star Network Online
Peek at RP hoops’ future this Saturday
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