RP Juniors cagers off to Yemen sans Top Gunner

K. Ravena

The RP U-18 team is likely to miss the services of top junior player Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal and Kevin Ferrer for a few games when the Nationals compete in the FIBA Asia U-18 tournament slated September 22 in Sana'a, Yemen.

Ravena, Pessumal and Ferrer still have commitments with their respective schools that are battling it out in the ongoing finals of the 73rd UAAP juniors basketball tournament.

Ravena and Pessumal are playing for the reigning back-to-back champion Ateneo Blue Eaglets while Ferrer is suiting up for the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs in their title series that started Tuesday.
UST stunned Ateneo, 77-71.

The three players have not practiced with the team since the start of the varsity season.


RP Youth coach Eric Altamirano said that Joshua Alolino of the NCAA's Perpetual Help will rejoin the team after the UAAP finals.

"We're hoping that the players we missed for the last two months would jell come game time because every match would play a huge role in our chances to compete," said Altamirano.

The nationals are composed of Ael Banal, Gywnne Capacio, Russell Escoto, Cedrick Labing-Isa, Kyle Neypes, Jeth Rosario, Roldan Sara, Jeron Teng and Cris Michael Tolomia. They leave for Yemen on Wednesday. 

Ray Parks, son of seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks, and Michael Pate, have begged off from joining the team to make up for their academic requirements. The two along with Teng and Tolomia represented the country in the Singapore Youth Olympics.

The Nationals are joined by China, Saudi Arabia and Syria in Group C. The top three teams will advance to the next round.

The top three teams in Group C will join the top three squads from Group D, which has Japan, Yemen, Iraq and India, competing in another set of an elimination round tourney.

The top four teams qualify for the knockout quarterfinals stage.

"I think the jelling part is there, the confidence level is there because they've played teams that are tall and strong," said Altamirano during the team’s sendoff party at the TAO Corporation in Makati City.

"It's hard to gauge which are the teams to beat because we haven't seen Syria and Saudi Arabia, but we expect China to be the favorite in our group," added Altamirano. -RCJ, GMANews.TV