Top PBL players form core of RP amateur five

Pared down to a fighting 12, the RP-Cebuana Lhuillier men’s team is ready to flash its deadly form in the PBA Mabuhay Cup, an invitational tournament which will start on July 27.

The team, which is being handled by multi-titled coach Aric del Rosario, is currently in the thick of preparations for the upcoming conference, which will also serve as a tune-up for the nationals’ stint in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in December.

The members of the team, which is comprised mostly of collegiate standouts playing in the Philippine Basketball League, are bannered by big men Mare Pingris, Al Magpayo, Ritchie Alvarez, Alwin Espiritu, Ranidel de Ocampo and Willy Wilson, shooters James Yap, Emerson Oreta, Wesley Gonzales and Peter June Simon and cat-quick guards Paul Artadi and Dennis Madrid.

"This is quite an impressive line-up," said BAP secretary general Graham Lim, who is monitoring the team’s progress. "I am sure they will give the other participating teams a hard time during the tournament."

Jean Henri Lhuillier, executive vice president of the sponsoring Cebuana Lhuillier, also expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress.

"I’m very satisfied with the team’s progress. They have strong tall men and good, quick shooters," said Lhuillier.

Lim also thanked the PBA for inviting the team to join the foreign-spiced PBA conference. "The PBA invitation for the team came at the right time when the nationals needed to sharpen their skills. And we’re very thankful to Commissioner Eala for his generosity."