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By Frank C. Calapre, Correspondent
THE National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
approved on Friday the participation of Nigerian Sam Ekwe in the
SEABA Champion’s Cup slated on April 3 to 7 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The MVP and Rookie of the Year of the NCAA in
2006 is expected to start at center for the Harbour Centre in the
event participated in by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and
Philippines.
Each team in the FIBA-sanctioned tournament is
allowed to field in at least two imports.
Harbour Centre topped the tournament last year,
beating Indonesia in the finals with imports Julius and Vidal
Massiah at the helm.
It was the country’s first title since FIBA
lifted the country’s suspension in international play.
Harbour team owner Mikee Romero thanked the
San Beda College community, especially the Samahang Basketbol ng
Pilipinas-BAP (SBP-BAP) president Manny V. Pangilinan, and the
NCAA Management
Committee headed by Paul Supan of Jose Rizal
University for allowing Ekwe to play for the country.
“We are excited to have him [Ekwe] as our
import for the coming tournament,” said Romero.
“With Ekwe around, we are confident that we
can keep our dominance in the tournament,” he added.
Team manager Erick Arejola said Ekwe will start
training with the team tomorrow.
“He’s excited to play for the team because
this will be his first time to play in an international
tournament,” said Arejola. “Even the members of the team are
thrilled to have him as teammate.”
Coach Jorge Gallent will handle the team, which
features the core of the RP squad that retained the 24th Southeast
Asian Games basketball crown last December in Nakhon Ratchasima,
Thailand. “We really need Ekwe because we only have one legitimate
center in Beau Belga,” said Gallent.
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