Barroca impressed by big Gilas backcourt
FORMER Gilas Pilipinas guard Mark Barroca believes current squad has the right pieces to compete in the world meet.
The veteran playmaker, who saw action for the Philippines in the 2019 Fiba Basketball World Cup, helped with the current team’s preparations for the 2023 meet as Magnolia played a tune up match with Gilas and was pleased with what he saw.
Even without Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, Barroca saw the advantage of a bigger Gilas backcourt.
“Maganda pa kasi malalaki yung guards kayang makipag-switch. Yan sina (Chris) Newsome. Kayang makipag-compete,” the Magnolia guard out of Far Eastern University added.
“Maganda yung sistema nila coach, yung pace nila nandoon. Sobrang bilis nila … At yun naman kailangan natin, kasi yun talaga ang chance natin sa international, e. Kaya dapat mabilis talaga yung pace natin at may pressure tayo.”
UST Tigers set for tuneup games in Korea
UNIVERSITY of Sto. Tomas is set to play pro teams and collegiate squads in Korea.
Nic Cabanero, Adama Faye and Paul Manalang lead the 16-man Tigers roster that will train for 11 days in Korea, with tuneup games against KBL teams including the Changwon LG Sakers.
UST will also face three top Korean university basketball teams.
Others in the squad are rookies SJ Moore and Mark Llemit, Fil-Ams Vince Ventulan and John Abate, with Kenji Duremdes, Kylle Magdangal, Echo Laure, Ivan Lazarte, Christian Manaytay, Miguel Pangilinan, Jonathan Gesalem, Mark Angelo Crisostomo, Bevir Ivanne Calum.
Filipinas face Norway squad missing Hegerberg
NORWAY will be without 2018 Ballon d’Or Feminin winner Ada Hegerberg in the final group stage match on Sunday against the Philippines in the Women’s World Cup.
Hegerberg suffered a groin injury during warmups for the game against Switzerland on Tuesday.
Norway, 1995 Women’s World Cup winner, is in the bottom of the group after losing the opening match to New Zealand and getting held to a scoreless draw by Switzerland.
“We knew there was a possibility that once she got injured that she would not play,” said Norway head coach Hege Riise on Saturday. “The medical team have been working with Ada to see whether it was possible for her to play the match, but today it has turned out that she cannot play.”
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