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Meet the RP Youth team!
Philippine youth basketball team was formally presented to the public yesterday, hopeful that the program will culminate in the country's long cherished dream of finally qualifying to the Olympics, next slate in London in 2012.
Sixteen of the country's top young players.
Culled from an extensive, nationwide tryouts conducted by coach Franz Pumaren and brother Dindo, make up the youth team, whose training and international campaigns until 2010.
Youth 5 launches Olympic dream
Coach Franz Pumaren presented the 16 members of the Nokia RP Youth training pool in the same well-attended affair at Teatrino in Greenhills.
The Nokia Pilipinas RP Youth team trudged heavily back to their dugout with heads bowed right after the customary handshake with the opposing team, as they knew that their hopes of coming home with honor vanished with the echo of the game horn signifying the end of the game. The scoreboard doesn’t tell about the electrifying manner the last 58 seconds were fought… It simply read PHI 78… JAP 86.
Recounting the past 40 minutes, This writer remembers how persistently the young warriors hung on to the coattails of Japan never allowing them to lead beyond striking distance. The first quarter score was 18-21. The lead was even taken 4 minutes into the 2nd quarter when Matthew Wright hit a 3 pointer from left flank 29-27. And even if it closed at 39-46, the Pinoy boys brought it down to 5 at the end of the 3rd 59-64.
‘Which brings us to the final period and that monumental 50-second battle. With 51.01 seconds left on the game clock, the score was 78-81. A 3-point shot away from getting an extension. On ball possession, Japan made 2 points.