Defending Champion Patriots line-up bared for Oct. 2

Thursday, September 23, 2010, Manila – A good mix of young guns and veterans will make up this year’s Philippine Patriots as they seek a second straight championship in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) which starts on October 2.



Though Warren Ybanez, Erwin Sta. Maria and former Letran star guard JP Alcaraz are the only returning players from last year’s champion squad, RP Patriots team manager Erick Arejola believes this year’s team remains strong and formidable.

“We know the players we got, they’re all talented. They just need proper exposure to realize their true potential,” said Arejola.

The team co-owned by Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero and businessman Tony Boy Cojuangco will be without the explosive import Gabe Freeman, the bull-strong Jason Dixon, high-leaping Elmer Espiritu and former Ateneo hotshot Nonoy Baclao but the Louie Alas-mentored squad has an efficient player in every position.

Baclao emerged as the overall top pick in last month’s PBA Draft Pick while Freeman and Dixon have prior commitments. Espiritu was also drafted in the PBA.

Even without the four marquee players, the presence of new imports Anthony Johnson and Donald Little, according to Romero, is more than enough to fill the scoring slack.

“Just like my previous team, Harbour Centre, we thrive in our never-say-die attitude,” said Romero, perhaps the most successful basketball club owner in recent history.

The newcomers who are expected to get a share of the limelight are former Far Eastern University star Benedict Fernandez, La Salle’s Jun Cabatu, Arellano’s Orly Daroya, University of Santo Tomas’ Allein Malicsi and University of the East’s Kelvin Gregorio.

The other new faces in the team are former Rain or Shine’s Allan Salangsang, Harold Sta. Cruz, Egay Billiones, Chito Jaime and the one-time controversial Alex Crisano. While the high-scoring Johnson is already a familiar fixture among basketball fans having played for two seasons for Sta. Lucia (now Meralco) in the PBA, Little is determined to carve a name for himself.

“He’s very tough inside the shaded lane, that will be his role since we have a lot of players who can shoot from the outside,” Arejola. (PNA)

News Source: balita.ph