"Definitely, it’s a happy development as far as the POC is concerned," said POC spokesman Joey Romasanta. "It shows that everyone is willing to cooperate and sacrifice to attain one common goal."
PSC Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, for his part, is convinced the Harbour Centre-PBL selection is capable of winning the tournament and burying the sad memories experienced by previous national teams in the annual event.
"I believe that if we bring our best available amateur players, then we have pretty good chances of winning the tournament," said Ramirez. "We have all the traits to become a champion team once again, we have the talent and skills, and of course the winning tradition."
The national team will be made up of six Harbour Centre players and at least 10 other stars from different teams in the Philippine Basketball League, long acknowledged as the country’s premier amateur league.
Inspired by the team’s back-to-back championship in the PBL, Mikee Romero, the youthful owner of Harbour Center, is bankrolling the training and participation of the team slated on April 8-13 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Romasanta also lauded the decision of the PBL top brass to reschedule the opening of the 2007 Unity Cup to a later date in order to accommodate the request of Romero to form and send a team to the Jakarta tournament.
"The adjustment made by the PBL is one big sacrifice and I hope this would be the start of basketball renaissance in the country," said Romasanta. "I also hope that other concerned sportsmen will also lend their support not only to basketball but also to other sports in the country."
With the guidance of business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, president of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Romasanta and Ramirez believe the country Is on the right path in regaining its lost glory in the international arena.
"If only we can train our young players long enough, then I’m sure we will become great again," said Ramirez.
The Jakarta tournament will be the first international stint by a national team since FIBA (international basketball federation) lifted its suspension last month.
And that’s why Romero and Commissioner Chino Trinidad are doing everything at their disposal to ensure the success of the Harbour Centre-RP squad.
The Harbour-RP squad, according to Romero and Trinidad, will be beefed up by former PBA import in Julius Nwosu. Harbour still needs one more import since the league permits a team to bring at least two reinforcements. The team wanted to tap San Beda’s Sam Ekwe but the NCAA MVP and Rookie of the Year winners is still recovering from a recent knee injury. Meantime, the Harbour-Philippine team along with Pangilinan, Romero, Trinidad and PBL Chairman Gil Angeles will grace today’s PSA Forum.