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By Frank C. Calapre, Correspondent
HARBOUR CENTRE team owner Mikee Romero on
Saturday expressed confidence in defending the Seaba Champion’s
Cup on April 2 to 6 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The team will be reinforced by 6’9” Nigerian
Sam Ekwe, 6’6” Fil-Am Gabe Norwood of Hapee Toothpaste and Eric
Rodriguez of Toyota-Otis.
The top two teams in the Seaba tournament will
compete in the FIBA-Asia Champion’s Cup in Dubai in May.
“The Seaba tournament allows two imports. But
due to time constraint, we have to manage with Ekwe,” explained
Romero.
Completing the team are 24th SEA Games veterans
Jayson Castro, Jeff Chan, Jonathan Fernandez, Beau Belga, Boyet
Bautista, TY Tang, Chad Alonzo and Solomon Mercado.
“We are looking forward towards another
successful campaign to prove that our victory last year is no
fluke,” said BAP-SBP Executive Director Patrick Gregorio, who also
graced the press conference at the PBL office in Makati.
Gregorio said Ekwe’s inclusion in the team is
part of a plan to encourage the Nigerian exchange scholar to become
a naturalized Filipino.
“There is a plan, but we still have to be
careful about it even as the FIBA allows two naturalized players per
country,” stressed Gregorio.
Gregorio also suggested that the current
All-Filipino champion represent the country in the FIBA-Asia
Champion’s Cup.
“But if the PBA declines my proposal, then the
same Harbour Centre team will play in Iran,” said Gregorio.
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