Ekwe to play for RP-Harbour Centre
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San Beda College and the Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahan ng Basketbol sa Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) have agreed in principle to include 6-foot-9 Nigerian Samuel Ekwe to the RP-Harbour Centre team for the SEABA Champions Cup on April 2-6 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The 2006 rookie-MVP was considered by Mikee Romero, the team owner of Harbour Centre, last March 8, 2007, and the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) to be Harbour Centre’s import to help them retain the crown which the team won last year also in Indonesia.
The team is required to field in two imports, but the PBL decided to have one import because of time constraints. In fact, they also considered Kevin Emeka Udo, the other Nigerian Player of San Beda, to be the second import.
But the PBL and BAP-SBP will not gamble due to some technicalities. “Ekwe already played in the country for two years, while Udo hasn’t played yet. So it is very risky to include him, for now,” said BAP-SBP executive secretary Patrick Gregorio.
“We are looking forward towards another successful campaign to prove that our victory last year is no fluke,” he also said.
Although San Beda College has agreed to lend Ekwe, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Management Committee (Man Com) is still reviewing its guidelines whether to allow Ekwe or not.
“I’m confident NCAA will allow Ekwe to be our import,” said Romero. “I’m happy San Beda is ready to lend Ekwe to the team.”
The NCAA Man Com, told inboundpass.com, said it will release a statement as soon as possible regarding its request.
Jorge Gallent, the multi-titled PBL head coach of Harbour Centre and the current San Sebastian College mentor, will coach the Philippine team.
“It is good to become part of the team as coach,” said Gallent.
Completing the team are 24th SEA Games veterans Jason Castro of PCU, Jeff Chan, Jonathan Fernandez of National University, Beau Belga, Boyet Bautista, TY Tang of De La Salle, Chad Alonzo and Solomon Mercado.
Romero said the team will also be bolstered by 6′6 Gabe Norwood of Hapee Toothpaste and Eric Rodriguez of Toyota-Otis.
Gregorio said the annual tournament will let the top team play in the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Dubai in May, a tournament that will allow two imports per team.
He also said if the PBA will not accept our proposal for a team to represent the country in the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup, then the same Harbour Centre team will instead take its place.
Gregorio said Ekwe could be naturalized as Filipino and become a regular member of the Philippine team if the campaign becomes successful.
“There is a plan, but we have still to be careful about it even as FIBA allows two naturalized players per country.”
Tags: BAP-SBP, FIBA, ncaa, News, Pato-Gregorio, Petron, red-lions, Sam-Ekwe, San-Beda, Sprint, UAAPRelated posts
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ELM_bedan
+0
Tuesday, 11 March 2008 at 9:42 am
there is nothing wrong we the Philippine team would like to get Sam Ekwe to represent the country but we should always remember that there are a lot of potentials out there… what i mean potentials are the Filipinos who has the skills, passion and the built for the game… let us bring back all the glory with a Filipino packed team.. let’s prove to them that we just considered a foreigner as a back up and the Filipinos are still the main men of the RP-Harbour Centre
The_Big_Cat
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Tuesday, 11 March 2008 at 11:07 am
This is a welcome development for Philippine basketball in the Asian scene. Ekwe has been here for the past four years. Filipinos especially Bedans can relate to him very well. I agree that the naturalization of Ekwe is just to complement what the team is missing. Ekwe is not a scorer and does not even have a back to the basket post-up move. What he can bring is rebounding, shot blocking and defense.
On the Southeast Asian scene, he would do well. But on the Asian scene like of the FIBA-ASIA or Asian Games, I think he would struggle. Japan, Korea, China, Lebanon, and China all have big men who can shoot from the perimeter and can put the ball on the floor. But Sam Ekwe could be a post defender on the South Korean 7′3″ Ha.
The_Big_Cat
+0
Tuesday, 11 March 2008 at 11:58 am
Naturalized players are an important asset today in international basketball. Joseph Vogel, 6′11″ from Colorado State, plays for Lebanon. He helped Lebanon finished 2nd in 2005 FIBA-ASIA Champions behind China to qualify in 2006 FIBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. Jordan has the 6′5″ Rahseim Wright that helped them bag the 2007 Jones Cup. JR Holden, 6′4″ guard, helped Russia win the 2007 EUROBASKET. And former PBA import JR Henderson is now a natuaralized Japanese citizen.
BedanRoar
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Tuesday, 11 March 2008 at 12:33 pm
It would be very interesting to watch “Sam” go up against taller players. His Defensive skills alone would be a great contribution to the National Team.
roni weiler
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Sunday, 16 March 2008 at 9:15 pm
We need more naturalized player like sam ekwe.Its’about time that foreign players would be allow to play for the flag.The issue here ay hindi imporatnte kung may filipino blood ka o wala but willingnes and sincerity are enough to show your love for the country.Unlike our leaders in the government filipino nga pero walang alam kundi mamulitaka at may crab mentality attitude….Nothing new that philippine nt use naturalized players gaya ni taulava at pennisi kulay at built pa lang filipinong-philipino sila
big boy
+0
Sunday, 16 March 2008 at 11:18 pm
Ekwe beefs up RP’s SEABA campaign
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By REY LACHICA
Harbour Centre-Philippines team will have a new “center of attraction” when it defends its crown in the SEABA Club Championship from April 3-7 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Nigerian Sam Ekwe, the 6-foot-7 center of San Beda College, will be Harbour Centre’s ‘import’ in the four-country tournament, thus giving the PBL four-time champion team a refreshing look.
Veteran PBA import Julius Nwosu and journeyman Vidal Massiah reinforced the Mikee Romero-owned team last year where it beat host Indonesia for the title the country’s first since the lifting of the FIBA’s (International Basketball Federation) suspension.
The 6-foot-9 Nwosu, still rock-solid at 34, caught the fancy of the Jakarta fans last year with his spectacular spin moves in the paint and rim-rattling dunks.
Romero, meantime, thanked the San Beda College community, especially Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Manny V. Pangilinan, and NCAA Management Committee for allowing the former league MVP to play for the country.
“We are excited to have Sam as our import for the coming tournament. I’m really thankful for San Beda and NCAA Mancom for allowing Sam to play for the country,” Romero said. “With him around, we hope to keep our dominance in the tournament.
-hibig sabihin po ba nito na-neutralized na si sam bilang filipino?
small boy
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Wednesday, 26 March 2008 at 3:57 pm
anong neutralized pinagsasabi mo?? baka naturalized… bobo naman
small boy
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Wednesday, 26 March 2008 at 5:45 pm
bobo din ako…