Ready to repeat

Blackwater Head Coach Leo Isaac sees no problem in the Elite’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Developmental League campaign after four of his players decided to try their luck in the PBA Annual Rookie Draft.

Big man Justin Chua and shifty guard Robby Celiz, both instrumental in Blackwater's title run in the recent Foundation Cup, along with Joseph Marata and Isaac Holstein were among those drafted during the proceeding on November 3 at the Robinson’s Place in Manila.

Chua was picked 10th by San Mig but was later traded to Global Port in exchange for Holstein, the Batang Pier's original choice in the first round. Celiz was tabbed by Talk 'N Text in the second round while Marata was chosen fifth by Petron in the third round.

Isaac said the four informed the coaching staff and the management of their intention to turn professional after helping the Elite sweep four-time PBA D-League champions NLEX Road Warriors in the best-of-three finals of the season-ending Foundation Cup.

“We still have enough big guys to fill Justin’s position and we got good material from the first PBA D-League draft,” said Isaac.

 Isaac added the coaching staff will activate four from their 17-player pool to complete the Elite’s 14-man line-up for the Aspirant’s Cup.

The Elite picked Adamson University King Falcon Jericho Cruz, former De La Salle Green Archer Jed Manguera, and Filipino-American Andrew Avillanoza of the University of the Visayas in last month’s draft.

"We also have Paole Pe, Eric Suguitan and Pari Llagas to plug the middle. They [rookie picks] are responding very well sa practice with the veterans so we have a competitive team this season,” said Isaac, who is aiming to steer the Elite to a second straight championship berth.

But the 1981 National Collegiate Athletic Association finals Most Valuable Player see a tougher road ahead in their bid to enter the finals with all the teams beefing up their line-up.

"Mas competitive ngayon with the entry of new teams, but for me it will still be NLEX as the team to beat with the core of San Beda. Pero lahat ngayon nakatingin sa amin dahil nagchampion kami," said Isaac.

"Tumaas ang confidence level of ng aming mga players, kahit papaano may swagger na. Pero may championship hangover pa at nasa cloud nine pa. Kaya kailangan i-remind sila lagi na manatiling nakatapak sa lupa."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bishop Hagemoen challenges pilgrims to be Prophets of the New Millennium

Image
SASKATOON — As Catholic youth gear up for the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Bishop Mark Hagemoen urged those who participated in the Mount Carmel Pilgrimage Site to embrace their role as prophets of the new millennium. On the Day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel feast, hundreds of pilgrims gathered at the Mount Carmel Pilgrimage site on Sunday, July 16, to participate in the annual liturgical services, and the day commenced with the recitation of the rosary and Marian hymns, culminating in a concelebrated mass led by Bishop Hagemoen. Bishop Mark Hagemoen During his homily, Bishop Hagemoen echoed the words of Pope Francis, calling on the pilgrims to embrace their prophetic calling and spread God's word to all. He emphasized that each individual, through baptism, has received the gift of Messianic prophecy, becoming a prophet themselves. "The pope says, ‘Each of us, brothers and sisters, is a prophet. In fact, with baptism, let us all receive the gift of the Messian
Read more

Papal visit hopes to repair relationship with Indigenous Peoples

Image
SASKATOON — The Vatican has released the official itinerary of Pope Francis with the pontiff heading straight to Edmonton to make his first visit to Canada to meet with Indigenous Peoples, especially residential school survivors. The Holy Father will leave Rome on July 24, Thursday, at 9:00 a.m. local time and will arrive at the Edmonton International Airport for the official welcome at 11:20 a.m. the same day. Rome is eight hours ahead of Alberta, which follows mountain daylight time. The theme of the papal visit is “Walking Together” which will focus on reconciliation and healing the strained relationship between the Catholic church and Indigenous Peoples, especially the survivors of the abuses caused by attending the Canadian residential school system. Pope Francis’ six-day trip is a combination of public and private events and meetings, especially with Indigenous Peoples. The visit comes after a few months when a historic meeting between First Nations, Inuit and Métis delegates in
Read more

A letter to Tatay

SASKATOON—My father died in February 2018, more than a month after our last vacation in the Philippines where we get to spend Christmas and New Year with our family and friends. I have no idea that would be the last time we would see Tatay alive, the last time he would see my family and spend time with two (Macky and Nathan) of his more than 10 grandchildren, and the last time I would speak to him in person and my last time to mano before heading to the airport the early morning of Jan. 9, 2018. He died while we were back on Saipan, thousands of kilometres away east of the Philippines; while I was busy covering House and Senate sessions at the CNMI Legislature or busy hounding the governor about a local or federal issue, and while I was working on an island surrounded by the ocean in the Western Pacific. I haven't mentioned this to anyone—and I'm not sure if Nanay or my sister who was then taking care of him remembers this—but I got furious at him when we talked on the ph
Read more