FORMER UST Growling Tigers team captain Emerson Oreta and slotman Alwyn Espiritu were tapped to play for the men’s national basketball team that will see action in the 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in December.
UST and national team head coach Januario “Aric” del Rosario hopes that Espiritu’s inclusion in the national team roster will boost the latter’s confidence in the upcoming Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines basketball tournament. Espiritu will be playing his last season for UST.
Because of his experience playing under del Rosario’s tutelage, Oreta is expected to help organize the team’s strategy on the court and beef up the team’s three point shooting. Oreta played his final season for the Growling Tigers in 2001, averaging 11 .4 points and 4.3 rebounds per outing.
On the other hand, Espiritu was UST’s second leading scorer last season, chipping in 14.3 points per game. He also led the team in rebounds with 7 caroms per game, while shooting a team-best 51.7 percent from the field.
Joining Oreta and Espiritu in the national team are Ateneo de Manila University’s Richard Alvarez and Wesley Gonzales, College of St. Benilde’s Al Magpayo, St. Francis of Assisi College’s Ranidel de Ocampo, University of the East’s James Yap and Paul Artadi, and De La Salle University’s Willie Wilson.
Standouts from the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association Jean Marc Pingris, Dennis Madrid, and Peter Jun Simon round up the roster.
With a lineup composed of the best amateur players, del Rosario hopes the team performs well in the international scene. The national team will also banner the country in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association championship and in the 22nd Asian Basketball Conference tournament in Haerbin, China later this year.
