Ex-pros beef up AK7 campaign

MANILA, Philippines - Four former PBA players, led by Elmer Reyes and Johnedel Cardel, will spearhead the campaign of AK7 in the 40-years-and-above division of the 27th World Veterans Basketball Invitational Tournament which starts on Nov. 24-27 in Taiwan.

Aside from Reyes and Cardel, also in the team are former Ginebra players Terry Saldana and Benny Cheng with Wildredo Wu as team manager.

According to Achit Kaw, the annual tournament gathers the best Chinese teams from around the world which will vie for supremacy in various age categories.

“It’s a tough tournament but we expect to contend for the title this time with the presence of some former PBA stars in the team,” said Kaw, who considers China as the team to beat in their division.

Also joining the team are Graciano Gollon, Randolph Dumlao, player-coach George Dy, team captain Michael Sia and Alexander Co. Richard Lim is the team’s liaison officer.

The team has the support of Burlington Socks, Pacific Paint Boysen Phils., Camus Engineering, Hypervolt Electrical Services and Jea Steel Industries.

Kaw and company are gunning for a second straight championship after winning the 40-years-and-above division championship in the ASEAN Veterans Basketball Tournament in Singapore last September.