RP tryouts resume

Though Ron Jacobs is still ill, the program designed by the American mentor for the Philippine team to the 2002 Asian Games will be implemented as chief benefactor San Miguel Corp., through Henry Cojuangco, reiterated its full support in a meeting with PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino at the Edsa Shangri-La Plaza yesterday.

Cojuangco stressed their commitment to help while Bernardino announced the resumption of Jacobs’ program for the RP Asiad bid with the start of the final stage of the tryout for the national pool tomorrow at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center inside Ateneo campus in Quezon City.

Bernardino called on San Miguel coach Jong Uichico to pinch-hit for his mentor. Fellow Jacobs proteges Allan Caidic and Eric Altamirano will help Uichico in calling the shots for the national hopefuls while Jacobs is in sickbay.

PBA draft aspirants Chris Clay, Rafi Reavies, Chris Calaguio, Omanzie Rodriguez, Romel Adducul, Mike Cortez, Renren Ritualo, Rob Johnson and Jimmy Alapag, MBA star John Ferriols and NCAA standout Sunday Salvacion have been added to the 17 PBA players Jacobs earlier named to the pool.

Those named first to the pool were Ali Peek and Kenneth Duremdes of Alaska, Eric Menk of Barangay Ginebra, Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle of San Miguel, Dennis Espino and Marlou Aquino of Sta. Lucia, Edward Juinio and Rudy Hatfield of Pop Cola, Chris Jackson of Shell, Davonn Harp and Mick Pennisi of Red Bull, Jeffrey Cariaso of FedEx, Don Camaso and Asi Taulava of Talk N Text and Noy Castillo and Andy Seigle of Purefoods.

However, other PBA players such as Patrick Fran of Talk N Text, EJ Feihl of Barangay Ginebra, Dondon Hontiveros and Olsen Racela of San Miguel, Boyet Fernandez of Purefoods, Johnny Abarrientos of Pop Cola, Michael Hrabak of Shell and John Arigo of Alaska are welcome to attend the tryout provided they have secured permission from their mother teams.

All players, including the 17 initially named, must report for the 9 a.m. practice "taped, stretched and ready to play," Uichico said.

Jacobs and company will prune down the list to around 28 on Jan.25, since the 2002 PBA season opens Feb. 10.

The Philippines’ quest to reclaim Asian supremacy in basketball is being taken up by the PBA, which altered its calendar for the coming season by allowing two candidates’ teams to take part in the first conference.

Coaching staff will thus have one full PBA tournament to look at the aspirants before trimming down the teams to 14, which will play in the second conference. The final lineup will be named after the second conference.

The 28 who will be named to the candidates’ teams will take a leave with their respective mother squads in the PBA and those cut after the Governors Cup will be allowed back to regular PBA play when the Commissioner’s Cup opens June 16.