Banal OKs Eagles’ RP tryout

As far as Ateneo coach Joel Banal is concerned, there is no reason why he could not allow his players to try out for the national cage team scheduled to compete in three international tournaments next year.

However, Banal said all this will be up to Ateneo, whose clearance will be needed to enable the key players to join the RP tryouts.

Banal, who steered the Eagles to their first UAAP title in 14 seasons over the La Salle Green Archers this year, said he is encouraging his players to join the RP squad try outs provided they do not neglect their studies.

"Personally, I’m encouraging it because its the country’s pride we’re talking about here," Banal told The STAR yesterday. "Basta huwag lang makaka-apekto sa pag-aaral."

Aric del Rosario, designated RP team coach by the Basketball Association of the Philippines, had shown great interest in Rich Alvarez, Wesley Gonzales and LA Tenorio because of their exploits in this year’s UAAP cage wars.

Banal said the three, along with fast-rising Larry Fonacier, had told him they might attend tryouts set in January next year.

Alvarez, Gonzales, Tenorio and Fonacier were not able to attend the first tryouts this month because of their busy schedule. The four and the rest of the Eagles are currently in the United States and may return in Manila in the first week of 2003.

The only problem is whether Ateneo would allow its players to try out for the RP squad.

"As much as I want them to try out, it’s still the school which has the last say on this," said Banal.

Boyzie Zamar, one of Del Rosario’s assistants, informed The STAR that the coaching staff had also sent invitations to top players from the provinces particularly University of Visayas’ power duo of Neil Raneses and Joseph Quinahan.

"Coach Aric and the coaching staff really want a competitive team so we’ve invited players from the provinces to try out," said Zamar.

Zamar, mentor of the RP team that won the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games gold medal, said that distance would not be a problem since the BAP is providing dormitories at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Raneses and Quinahan, the tandem that helped the Lancers to a semifinal stint in the tough Champions’ League 2002, at presstime, have yet to respond to Del Rosario’s invitation.

Del Rosario, backed up by Zamar and St. Benilde mentor Dong Vergaire, informed The Star that the RP team would likely be bannered by University of the East’s James Yap and Paul Artadi, St. Francis’ Irvin Sotto and Ranidel de Ocampo and Welcoat Paints’ Marc Pingris.

Santo Tomas’ Alwyn Espiritu, Jemal Vizcarra, Dondon Villamin, Christian Luanzon and Nino Gelig, Far Eastern’s Arwind Santos and Mark Isip and UE’s power dunker KG Canaleta were the other candidates mentioned by del Rosario.

Del Rosario, a former Tiger whose closest brush with the RP team was making it to the final 24 of coach Tito Eduque’s squad in the late 60s, said these players attended the first six tryouts conducted this month.