SBP, Tao start youth program

The BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and Tao Corp. formalized in a meeting yesterday their partnership for the running and funding of  a three-year program culminating hopefully with the country’s participation in the World Basketball Championship in Turkey in 2010.

The Tao Corp. of Dumaguete businessman-sportsman Jun Sy pledged no less than P76.5 million to finance SBP’s programs the next three years, including the National Basketball Training Center envisioned to produce talents for future international competitions.

The SBP and its chief backer are investing heavily on the training center, really hopeful it would spell success for the country not only in men’s basketball but women’s basketball as well.

The partners had their strategic meeting practically the whole day yesterday at Ascott Hotel (formerly Oakwood) in Makati. In attendance were Sy, SBP executive director Patrick Gregorio, training center director Eric Altamirano and national youth coach Franz Pumaren.

“SBP will have parallel programs with coach Franz Pumaren handling the youth team and coach Eric Altamirano running the training center. We’ll put together 40 boys and 40 girls. Those from the provinces will be given free tickets to fly here. They will be provided free board and lodging while attending the program. These guys would be our future national players,” said Gregorio.

The program starts with the nationwide search for promising 14-18-year-old players.

Coach Ramon Fernandez has actually conducted a tryout in Cebu and coach Manny Mitoreda in Davao with hundreds of hopefuls attending.

This weekend, Altamirano is conducting a tryout for girls at the Xavier Sports Center.

Altamirano will also conduct tryouts in Iloilo, Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro early next year.

“This is really something special. The hopefuls and the coaches are all excited with this,” said Gregorio.

Among the brightest prospects in the pool are UAAP juniors MVP Tata Marata, San Beda’s Nico Salva, San Sebastian’s Arvie Bringas and Xavier’s Rafael Banal.

Tao Corp. is pouring P20 million for the project in 2008, P25 million in 2009 and P30 million in 2009.

By 2009, the cage officials are hopeful they have developed a team capable of doing good in the qualifier for the 2010 world championship. The same team is to be sent to the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.