RP women's youth tryout slated

MANILA, Philippines - The Careline-Philippine Women’s Junior and Youth teams will hold tryouts for Metro Manila-based aspirants on Feb. 21-22 at the Xavier School Sports Center in San Juan.

RP Women’s Youth patron Dioceldo Sy, chairman of Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc., hopes to gather and train the best available talents in the country for future international tournaments.

The two-day tryout is in line with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, under its president and telecommunications mogul Manny V. Pangilinan and executive director Noli Eala, in reviving the country’s glory in women’s basketball.

“This is the first of a series of tryouts we are going to hold for the women’s youth and junior basketball. With the support of SBP, we hope we can attract a large number of aspirants,” said Sy, who has been tasked by SBP to form and finance the training of the RP 16-under team.

Only players born in 1993 and 1992 are allowed to take part in the tryouts set 8 a.m.-12 noon. Former University of the Philippines player Pat Aquino will call the shots for the RP team.

Players who wish to join the tryouts will get complimentary Careline products and t-shirts from Freego of Edward Tio. Participants must bring photocopy of their birth certificates.

After the Metro Manila tryout, Sy said Aquino and his coaching staff composed of Paul Du and former RP standout Julie Amos will go to Dagupan, Cebu and Mindanao to conduct similar tryouts.

“We believe in the vision of SBP that for the country to become No. 1 in both the men’s and women’s divisions, we should maintain an elite and grassroots program for the women’s youth sector. And that is the commitment of Careline to the SBP and to the country,” Sy, the former Philippine Basketball League (PBL) chairman, said.