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THE Quezon Huskers might be a newbie, but coach Eric Gonzales feels something special about the team which makes its debut against fellow rookie squad Negros Mascuvados in the 5th Season opening of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) on Saturday (March 11) at the Lucena Convention Center in Lucena City.
“It’s a tough task, but the way I see it everything has a room for improvement. One game at a time, let’s see how we fare against our opponents. Making it to the quarterfinals, malaking bagay na siyempre sa team,” said the 57-year-old veteran coach who used to mentor the Globap Port in the PBA and coach the FEU-led Terrence Romeo to the 2013 UAAP Championship.
Gonzales stressed that the Huskers are made up of former Gilas junior standouts, former PBA mainstays and homegrown players led by Lucena City’s pride Topeng Lagrama.
“I called try-outs for the team, almost 100 players ang dumating. But someone told me that there is one player here (Topeneng Lagrama) who will really give the team the needed leadership and be a crowd-drawer for the province of Quezon,” said Gonzales during the team’s official launching on Wednesday at the old Capitol building of the Quezon City Government.
Quezon Province Gov. Dr. Angelina ‘Helen’ Tan expressed the full support of the province for the team which she said will be part of Quezon’s promotion program to further strengthen sports tourism and introduce Quezon as a progressive province in Southern Luzon and the entire country.
“With the help of our friends from the private sector, the office of the Mayor of Lucena and the 4th District of the province, we supported the formation and participation of the team in the MPBL as a way to help us in promoting the beauty and the culture of the Quezon province. Because many people, still confused about our province. Pag may nagtanoing, tagasaan ka? Ang sagot taga-Quezon, medyo nalilito, they seem to be lost, they don’t know our province. With this, you can now recognize our province and may soon visit us for sight-seeing and vacation,” said Gov. Tan at the said media launch which was also attended by Lucena City Mayor Mark Victor Alcala and team manager Don Kapunan.
“We’re inviting all of you to come to Quezon and watch the MPBL opening ceremony and show your support to our Quezon Huskers first game. We will also parade our beautiful Bb. Quezon and we will show short videos to present the beautiful places and tourist attractions of the entire province,” said Tan.
The Quezon Huskers will face the Negros Mascuvados in the main game of the double-header attraction at 8:00 am. Bataan and Rizal will square off in the first game at 6 o’clock after the opening ceremony at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.
“We are all out to support the Quezon Huskers, and our kababayan are certainly excited to watch the homegrown players who we hope will keep the pride of the province,” said Mayor Alcala.
Aside from point guard Lagrama, the Huskers’ homegrown players are Bryant Placino, Arjay Dongog, Paeng Salonga and former PBA player Jeric Teng. The line up also includes 6-foot-10 Fil-Norwegian and Ginebra draftee Ken Holmsqvist, former Batang Gilas mainstays AJ Madrigal, Brix Ramos, CJ Catapusan, Mark Alcala, Allan Beltran, Al Francis Tamsi, RJ Minerva, Thomas Torres , Rodel Gravera, JK Casino, Jaggie Gregorio and Daryl Pascual.
“May kinakausap pa akong apat na dating PBA players, hopefully mag-materialize. Will Gozum of St. Benilde is also with us, but he will not be able to play yet because something is still being fixed in his previous contract,” said Gonzales.
Photo: by Quezon Province Gov. Helen Tan (center) and team manager Dan Kapunan hold the ball during the Quezon Huskers team launching as the newest member of the MPBL. Also in photo is Lucena City Mayor Mark Alcala (third from left) and team members.
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