Ritualo to NBA camp?

It may be too late but although Air21 star RenRen Ritualo isn’t holding his breath, he’s still hoping for an invitation to attend either the New Jersey Nets or Philadelphia 76ers training camp before the next National Basketball Association (NBA) season opens on Nov. 1.

NBA teams are now conducting tryouts while playing preseason exhibition games.

Player agent Sam Unera said yesterday former NBA player Darryl Dawkins sent a tape of Ritualo sinking nine triples in a row for FedEx during a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) game to the Nets coaching staff with a strong recommendation to invite the Express sharpshooter to camp.

Ritualo was shown on tape burying nine straight treys en route to a 36-point explosion in FedEx’ 116-106 win over Red Bull in the Fiesta Conference last April.

Unera is the general manager of the United States Basketball League team Pennsylvania Valley Dawgs whose coach is Dawkins. He enlisted PBA veterans Bong Alvarez and Vince Hizon to play for the Dawgs last season.

Unera, who lives in Pennsylvania, is in town for a visit to check on business opportunities and monitor the progress of Air21 import Shawn Daniels whom he brought here.

"According to Darryl, the feedback from the Nets coaching staff is positive and they’re asking for tapes of RenRen’s first three games in the PBA this season," said Unera. "If the Nets don’t pursue it, we can go to the Sixers whose coach Maurice Cheeks was Darryl’s teammate and is a long-time friend. But I think the Nets will give RenRen a tryout. They know there’s a big Filipino community in Jersey where there’s even a Manila Avenue. The Filipino fans will come out in full force if a Filipino’s playing for the Nets, that’s for sure."

Unera said his interest in bringing Ritualo to the NBA is strictly patriotic. "I’m doing this for our country," he continued. "We’re looking for the first Filipino to play in the NBA. China, Japan and Korea already had their turn. Now it’s ours."

The first Chinese player in the NBA was Wang Zhizhi. Japan’s Yuta Tabuse and Korea’s Ha Seung Jin made their pro debuts last season. Asians invited to past NBA training camps included Lebanon’s Fahdi Al-Khatib, China’s Lui Wei and Ma Jian and Chinese-Taipei’s Chen Hsin An.

Unera said he has spoken to Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez about the possibility of losing Ritualo to the NBA.

"Mr. Alvarez was excited about it," said Unera. "Naturally, he’ll miss RenRen but he knows it will be a big achievement for a Filipino to play in the NBA. He’s supporting it all the way because it’s good for the Philippines."

Unera said Ritualo’s impressive showing at the Global Hoops Summit in Las Vegas last July opened the eyes of NBA scouts. In a game against Passing Lane Sports, Ritualo knocked down seven treys and scored 27 points. Passing Lane’s God Shammgod, an NBA veteran, tried to silence Ritualo in the fourth period but the "Rainman’ still got away with 16 points, including an in-your-face triple at the buzzer.

After the game, Shammgod approached Ritualo, shook his hand and complimented him for his shooting ability.

Unera said Ritualo’s first game this season was a stock booster. He fired 17 points and hit the game-winning triple off import Marquin Chandler to power Air21 to an 88-86 win over Purefoods last Oct. 7.

Ritualo said Unera told him of the possibility of trying out for the Nets or the Sixers.

"Of course, I’m excited," Ritualo said. "Who wouldn’t be? It’s every player’s dream to play in the NBA. But I’m not conscious about it. I know I still have a lot to learn. My goal is to keep improving. If the invitation doesn’t come this year, maybe next year."

Ritualo said he has to strengthen his legs, especially his calf muscles, and play intelligently now that defenders swarm all over him.

"I’m learning how to play decoy," he said. "I’m trying to penetrate and dish. I try to do whatever my coach tells me. What’s important is our team wins consistently, never mind my individual statistics."

Ritualo, 26, played for San Beda high school then joined the La Salle seniors in 1997. He finished his varsity eligibility in 2001 with a truckload of awards, including Rookie of the Year, two Finals MVPs and four Mythical Team selections. In the Philippine Basketball League, Ritualo also made waves as a regular season MVP and finals MVP. He was Rookie of the Year in the PBA in 2002 and Sixth Man awardee the next year.

After being named to the national team last June, Ritualo said his dream is to win a gold medal for the country and to make every Filipino proud.