Made up of Joseph Ronald Quinahan, Jayford Rodriguez, Mark Jonas Ababon and Morsie Akad, the RP team won three of four games in the elimination round, defeated Chinese-Taipei in the cross-over semis before turning back Hong Kong in the finals two days ago, 13-11.
It was a well-deserved win for the RP team, which finished second to Hong Kong in the first three editions of the tournament. The finals of the Asian Adidas Streetball Challenge was held in Manila two years ago when the Philippines was represented by a team from Zamboanga City.
The team, made up of Green Lancers, was coached by former PBA star forward Elmer "Boy" Cabahug, now based in Cebu City, and was accompanied by John Alonte, vice-president of Adidas Philippines.
"The players should be proud of this victory because they did not only represent our school…not Luzon, the Visayas or Mindanao but the entire country. It’s about time we win this title," said the sweet-shooting Cabahug who played for Alaska, Purefoods, Pepsi and Sta. Lucia in a 10-year PBA career.
"It was the versatility and fluidity of our players that won us the title unlike the other teams that relied so much on pattered plays. It also helped that they came from one school," added Cabahug.
"When we left for China, we were hoping but not very confident. But as the days passed by our chances grew bigger and we won the title," said Alonte, adding that the money spent by Adidas for the team is "nothing compared to the honor and glory brought by the victory."
As part of their incentive, the team members will fly to the US later this year for a rare meeting with NBA superstar Tracy McGrady of the Orlando Magic. — Abac Cordero