Three years after making youth basketball history by becoming the first non-American team to capture a title in the Las Vegas Easter Classic, the Xavier School boys from San Juan, Metro Manila fly to the United States on April 10 with high hopes of producing another fruitful performance in the prestigious event.
It took Xavier's underrated, small boys eight years to break the domination of their much taller American rivals, a feat which was highly acclaimed by Filipino cage lovers, including former Speaker Jose de Venecia who gave them cash incentives. They face a bigger challenge now.
The Xavier squad is composed of sharpshooting Christopher Tiu, shifty court general Tyrone Tang, defense specialists Paul Chua and Samuel Young, Francis Ang, Julius Hon, Andrew Jao, Leonard Lee, Gino Ng, Luke Orbos, Ericson Paul Yee and Juan Carlos Yu.
Another RP squad made up of Kim Capiral, Louie Lao, Rejan Lee, Earl Lim, Raymond Francis Lumanlan, Edwinson Patrick Malibiran, Gabriel Sia, Jaber Suleiman and Juan Gabriel Velasco will compete in the 14-year-old group.
Around 148 other teams from the US and Hawaii are vying in different age groups from 11 to 17 in the tourney set April 19-22 in Las Vegas.
The two RP squads will actually represent the BEST Center, organizer of local small cage tourneys. They will leave on a Cathay Pacific jet to Los Angeles, California where they will play three or four goodwill games before proceeding to Las Vegas.
Former RP team coach and BEST Center founder Nic Jorge heads the RP delegation.
Parents of the young RP campaigners, led by Carolyn Young, Rey and Alice Tang, George and Rosie Chua and Andy Jao, are also flying to Los Angeles and Las Vegas to provide moral support.