Fil-Ams, Asiad vets lead Jacobs wish list

They’re bringing in the height, heft and hustle of Fil-foreign players and the wisdom and experience of those who have gone to the wars, plus a number of talents from the other cage leagues to render some transparency to the entire exercise anchored on a singular theme — win the gold in the Asian Games.

The talents come in abundance that national coach Ron Jacobs’ wish list for the Philippine team could easily assemble two teams and conduct a swift series of tryouts.

In fact, a total of 43 players from the PBA, the MBA and the PBL were named by Jacobs as candidates for the two RP training squads that will compete in the PBA first conference next year.

Fil-Am standouts Eric Menk, Asi Taulava, Dan Seigle and Noy Castillo, as expected, led the list of players invited to join the tryouts that will be conducted for no less than a week starting Dec. 10 at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center inside the Ateneo campus.

Asian Games veterans Johnny Abarrientos, Marlou Aquino, Dennis Espino, Kenneth Duremdes, Olsen Racela and Andy Seigle also made it to the roster that also included six MBA standouts in Omanzie Rodriguez, Romel Adducul, John Ferriols, Chris Calaguio, Rafi Reavis and Bruce Dacia and three PBL mainstays in Renren Ritualo, Yancy de Ocampo and Mike Cortez.

The bulk of the players from the MBA and the PBL are likely to make it to the pool since the PBA board of governors allowed Jacobs to name no more than 16 players from the PBA in his final wish list.

Jacobs has appealed to make it 18 as in the case of coach Tim Cone in 1998. The board will discuss it in its meeting today at the Shangri-La Edsa Plaza.

Other PBA players called for the tryouts are Pop Cola’s Rudy Hatfield and Poch Juinio, San Miguel’s Danny Ildefonso, Ginebra’s Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa, Red Bull’s Davonn Harp, Mick Pennisi, Junthy Valenzuela, Kerby Raymundo, Willie Miller and Jimwell Torion, Alaska’s Ali Peek, John Arigo and Rodney Santos, Purefoods’ Boyet Santos, Fernandez, Talk N Text’s Jherome Ejercito, Don Camaso, Patrick Fran and Vic Pablo, Tanduay’s Jeffrey Cariaso and Dondon Hontiveros, and Shell’s Chris Jackson and Mike Hrabak.

Conspicuously missing in the list are four-time Asian Games veteran Alvin Patrimonio, Ginebra stars Jun Limpot and Vergel Meneses and San Miguel defensive aces Nic Belasco, Dorian Pena and Freddie Abuda.

However, Jacobs informed the PBA coaches as well as the MBA and PBL officials that they are free to suggest players whom they feel deserve to join the tryout.

The PBA board has given Jacobs a Dec. 17 deadline to announce the composition of his two training teams but he has appealed to extend it to Dec. 22.

Jacobs has named only one assistant coach so far in Jong Uichico. He intends to tap three deputies with two of them to call the shots for the training teams during their stint in the 2002 PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Jacobs will oversee the teams’ PBA participation from the sideline.