MERGED: NATIONAL TEAM and FIL-AM PLAYERS

[digitalsuperman]

---

NATIONALS SHOW OFF POTENTIAL NEW FIL-AM RECRUIT, WALLOPS ABA-USBL SELECTION
Wednesday, 11 April 2007


Carson City, CA. – Team Pilipinas, showing off a potential 12th player in George Mason University standout Norwood, posted win No. 3 Sunday, beating a selection of ABA/USBL players and aspiring pros, 98-74, before a weekend crowd of close to 300 kababayans at the Home Depot Center here.


Starting with the same unit as the last game, the Nationals raced to a quick 12-0 lead, forcing the opposing coach to call an early timeout. Inspired by the presence of his relatives, Mark Caguioa opened up scoring with a three-point shot, before Asi Taulava and Ranidel de Ocampo took turns attacking the hoop for that dozen-point spread.


The Americans came back strong behind CCA all-conference member Johntae Vincent and ABA veteran Phil Givens to close out the first-quarter down by only 30-24.


Shortly before the quarter ended, Norwood, whose late grandfather hails from Pangasinan and grandmother Frances Villoria is from Camiling Tarlac entered the game. The 6-5 Norwood played point guard for GMU, which advanced to last year's NCAA Final Four but failed to make it this year. Gabe flew in from Virginia and joined the Nationals in their 3-a-days last Friday. He also practiced with the team Saturday morning before playing the same night.


But the way he seamlessly blended in, you would think he 's been playing with the team for a long time. Alternating between the point and off-guard spots, Norwood immediately made his presence felt via a thunderous slam off a behind the back pass from Jimmy Alapag early in the 2nd quarter that drove the pro-Pinoy crowd wild. Gabe went on to score on a variety of jumpers while running the offense and passing off for six assists, prompting his teammates to give their "thumbs-up" on his potential as a probable national team member.


The combination of Norwood, Danny Seigle, Caguioa, Mick Pennisi and Kerby Raymundo conspired to tow RP to a commanding 58-42 advantage at halftime.


The Americans opened the third quarter with a 12-2 run to threaten at 60-54. After a timeout, RP threw a surprise half-court trapping defense that led to successive baskets with Seigle scoring eight points as the quarter ended with SMB-RP comfortably back on top, 79-61.


This seemed to take the fight out of the Americans as they never got any closer the rest of the way as Team Pilipinas continued applying the pressure until the final buzzer.


CHOT’S THOUGHTS: “This RP Team has great size and talent, but is more of an All-Star selection, and not really a team. Still, I thought we did well in terms of ball movement and overall effort. More importantly, we finally had a chance to see how Gabe fits in with us, and from seeing this game, his work ethic in the weight room and court drills, and his instant rapport with his teammates, I would say that he is a great fit. He flies back to attend school Sunday night, so it will be interesting to see how we play against legitimate Division I teams on Tuesday (Cal State Fullerton) and Wednesday (Long Beach State).�


The scores:


RP-San Miguel – Seigle 21, Caguioa 18, Pennisi 13, de Ocampo 11, Helterbrand 10, Taulava 8, Norwood 8, Raymundo 4, Alapag 4, dela Cruz 2, Ritualo 2. (Hontiveros DNP due to injury)


US Selection – Vincent 21, Givens 15, Bewer 10, Yamatz 8, Bryant 8, Meiller 4, Rivers 4, Lawrence 4, Hamilton 0.[br]Posted on: 11-04-2007, 21:12:52

[/b][/url]

[piaosigua]

mas maayo unta to kun gikuha nila si Kelly Williams pra instant spark off the bench.

[makoyvelasco]

will that norwood suit up for the team for the whole stint? or is he just a hontiveros substitute?

[digitalsuperman]

Fil-Am star to play for nationals
It seems Noli Eala's joyous response simply confirmed that Norwood will play for Team Pilipinas.
Manila standard Today

NATIONAL coach Chot Reyes has discovered Fil-Am star Gabe Norwood, who indicated he is eager and ready to play for the Philippines in the Fiba Asia qualifying tournaments and help earn for the country the right to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

An overjoyed Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Noli Eala broke the news to Viva Sports/Standard Today prior to leaving for the pro league’s out-of-the-country game in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Norwood , a 6’5� standout, played point guard for George Mason University which advanced to last year’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Final Four.

Reyes said Norwood, whose late grandfather hails from Pangasinan and whose grandmother Frances Viloria is from Camiling, Tarlac, flew in from Virginia and joined the nationals in their grueling workouts last Friday. He also practiced with the team before last Saturday’s game against an ABA/USBL selection of players and aspiring pros.

During the game at the Home Depot Center in Carson City, which the RP team won handily, 98-74, before a crowd that included some 300 Filipinos living in California, Reyes said the way Norwood “seamlessly blended in, you would think he’s been playing with the team for a long time.�

He said Norwood, alternating between the point and off-guard spots, “immediately made his presence felt via a thunderous slam off a behind-the-back pass from Jimmy Alapag early in the second quarter that drove the Pinoy crowd wild.�

Reyes said Norwood scored on a variety of jumpers, while running the offense and passing off for six assists, prompting his teammates to give their “thumbs-up� on his potential as a probable national team member. Ronnie Nathanielsz.

[makoyvelasco]

its a very good news that the philippine team is really taking the olympics seriously. they just had an incredible comeback effort against a division 1 team and runned some drills with former nba coach don casey..

http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1530/59/

[makoyvelasco]

RP team is currently 0-3. but still coach chot reyes remained hopeful for the SEABA

0-1 http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1585/59/
0-2 http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1587/59/
0-3 http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1589/59/

[fha]

if RP 5 are really into the Olympics, then team chemistry should be taken seriously..

[makoyvelasco]

finally, a win for RP team in the FIBA. and enough to make it to the quarterfinals

1-3 http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1592/59/

next game: tune-up game (non-FIBA tournament game) against Iran, a team that has a 7-foot-5, and two 6-foot-11 centers. probably a very good training ground for the upcoming SEABA games and FIBA Asia championships. still, my hopes for the RP team to make it to the top 2 in asia and make it to the olympics

[makoyvelasco]

2-3 http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1599/59/

RP team finally looking good and got their range. the nationals won their 2nd straight game against the heavily favored and feared team in the tourney, Lebanon.

[fha]

kulang jd tingali sila size bro...size does matter...