PBL to hold exhibition series for RP, US squad

True to its commitment, the Philippine Basketball League has arranged a five-game exhibition series for the RP team against the visiting US selection led by Brando Payton, the 23-year-old younger brother of Seattle Supersonics All-Star guard Gary Payton.

PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad originally planned to form a PBL selection against the visiting US squad but instead shelved the plan in favor of the cage nationals whom he thinks need the exposure more.

"As we have reiterated, national interest is our foremost concern and I believe the experience, the lessons and the exposure the RP nationals will gain from this stint will be a big boost to their preparation for three major tournaments this year," said Trinidad.

The series came to fore after a series of meetings between PBL deputy commissioner Tommy Ong and Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) vice-president Christian Tan together with Johnny Tam.

The visiting US team is composed of talented veterans and collegiate standouts and beefed up by familiar faces in local basketball.

Payton will be accompanied by 6’4" Maurice Brown, 6’3 Alvin Stephenson Jr., 6’0 Gary DiGrazia, 6’5 Nathaniel Gore, 6’8 Will Levy and 6’10 Terrence Super.

Beefing up the team are MBA veterans Chris Mendoza, Kalani Fereria, VJ Santos and actor Carlos Morales, a former San Sebastian Stag who also played for the Pangasinan Waves.

From the list, Brown, who played for California State Bakersfield, will be the biggest attraction having been the shot-block leader of the 2002 San Francisco Pro-Am.