BARRIOS EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR FIL-FOREIGN APPLICANTS

Fil-foreign players who are still working on their papers that would serve as their pass for the 2010 PBA Annual Draft can heave a sigh of relief.

Commissioner Sonny Barrios yesterday extended the deadline for submission of applications from Wednesday (July 14) to Monday (July 19) to give Fil-foreign aspirants enough time complete the documents required from them to be eligible to join the Draft scheduled on August 29 at Market! Market! in Taguig City.

“The documents we require from Fil-foreign applicants need some time to be processed so we are extending the deadline for a few days so they can gather all the documents they need,” Barrios explained.  

He said there will be no more extension after July 19.

So far, 16 applicants, including three foreign-bred players and a one-time NCAA Most Valuable Player (MVP), have made themselves available for the Annual Draft.

John Wilson of Jose Rizal University and Josh Thomas Vanlandingham lead the early aspirants in the league’s first official activity for its 36th season.

Wilson is the 6-foot-3 wily Heavy Bomber guard who steered JRU to the NCAA Final Four last year, on his way to winning the season’s MVP award. He also suited up for Oracle and Fern C in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

Vanlandingham, meanwhile, hails from Seattle,USA and saw action for Everett CC. Upon arriving here, he played for Hapee Toothpaste in the PBL that placed runner-up to Harbour Center.

The 26-year old forward also happens to be the great grandson of Filipino Olympic medalist, the late swimming great Teofilo Yldefonso.

Aside from Vanlandingham, the other Fil-Am players in this year’s draft are Robert Francis Simpson Jr. from Eckerd College and Sean Paranada of Chabot College. Simpson had stints with Cossak/Cobra in the PBL.

Other bright prospects who already applied are San Sebastian College’s Jimbo Aquino, Philippine Christian University’s Liztian Amparado and high-scoring Letran guard Rafael Joey (RJ) Jazul Jr.

Aquino is best remembered for steering the Stags to a stunning 2-0 sweep of mighty San Beda Red Lions in last year’s NCAA championship series, where he emerged as the unanimous choice as Finals MVP.

The rest of the Draft applicants’ list includes Fred Rick Donato Malabago, Melchor Caysil Gile, Khazim Ali Mirza, Petrus Delmar Santos, Riego Meinardo Villa Ganalinda and Marvin Gallemit Graebel.

Gile was born in Tripoli, Libya while Graebel listed Frankfurt, Germany as his birthplace. The two, however, are considered “homegrown” because they are Philippine passport holders and have NSO birth certificates.

The contestability period will be from July 16 to August 15, 2010 while August 16 is the deadline for submission of application for local board aspirants.

The PBA Commissioner’s Office will announce the official list of candidates for the Draft on August 20. After that all the candidates will participate in a week-long Expanded Rookie Camp set from August 21-27. (pr)

Derby Ace vs Rain or Shine Photos (Quarterfinals Game 2, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters win, 79-69)

 Rico Maeirhofer tries to steal the ball to Sol Mercado but he got a bad timing and caught for a foul.

Sol Mercado driving to the lane against the slapping James Yap and Roger Yap.

Gabe Norwood throws down a Alley-op from Sol Mercado.

import Rod Nealy driving to towards the hoop against James Yap and Don Allado.

Kerby Raymundo got the advantage of picking up the lose ball against Ryan Arana.

Alaska vs Ginebra Photos (Quarterfinals Game 1, Alaska wins, 76-72)

PBA IMAGE1 - LA Tenorio reaches for the ball against Jayjay Helterbrand.
PBA IMAGE2 - Sonny Thoss creating his shot a the paint against Erik Menk
PBA IMAGE3 - Jayjay Helterbrand looking to convert a lay-up against import Diamon Simpson
PBA IMAGE4 - Willie Miller pushes thru the defense of Cyrus Baguio
PBA IMAGE5 - Gin import Chris Daniels spins over Joe Devance and looking to take a shit against Sonny Thoss

Rain or Shine vs BMEG Photos (Quartefinals Game1, BMEG triumphs, 108-102)

PBA IMAGE1 - James Yap protecting the ball gainst Gabe Norwood and Sol Mercado
PBA IMAGE2 - James Yap shooting over Gabe Norwood and Ryan Arana
PBA IMAGE3 - Cliff Brown reverse falling down shot against Rod Nealy
PBA IMAGE4 - Gabe Norwood ready to take off against Rafi Reavis and Cliff Robinson
PBA IMAGE5 - Paul Artadi tries to make his shot over Rod Neally

Commissioner Lito with PBA Board

OFFICIALS of the Philippine Basketball Association, led by Commissioner Sonny Barrios, 6th from right, give PBA chairman and newly-appointed Bureau of Customs commissioner Lito Alvarez, middle, the thumbs-up sign during the turnover ceremony yesterday at the BoC Social Hall in Port Area. Also in photo, from left, are: Patrick
Gregorio (Talk ‘N Text), Robert Non (Ginebra), media bureau chief Willie Marcial, operations and technical committee chief Rickie Santos, Atty. Manny Mendoza (Barako Coffee), legal counsel Atty. Melvin Mendoza, Buddy Encarnado (Sta. Lucia Realty), vice chairman Rene Pardo (B-Meg Derby Ace), legal counsel Atty. Aga Francisco, former Pasig Mayor Mario Raymundo, Atty. Mert Mondragon (Rain or Shine), and Raffy Casyao (Barako Coffee).

PBA chair Alvarez named Customs commissioner

Corporate finance authority Angelito ’Lito’ Alvarez takes off his hat as chairman of the Philippine Basketball Association to put on a new one as commissioner of the Bureau of Customs.

Alvarez, 52, was sworn in at 10 a.m. Tuesday by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima at his Department of Finance  office, laying to rest speculations on who President Benigno Simeon Aquino III will assign to one of the government’s most sensitive agencies.

The former Sycip,Gorres, Velayo & Co. senior auditor will assume official functions during formal turnover rites at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Bureau of Customs, with Purisima and outgoing Customs commissioner
Napoleon Morales present.

Alvarez, who has six children (four boys and two girls), was with his wife, Maria Vilma, at the swearing-in ceremony. He will take his oath of office with Pres. Aquino at 2 p.m. Thursday in Malacanang.

His first marching orders, Alvarez said, are to “meet revenue goals, work in close coordination with the Bureau of Internal Revenue to prevent tax leakages, and identify smugglers.”

A graduate of Far Eastern University and a Certified Public Accountant by profession, Alvarez worked for five years with SGV&Co. before moving to Sunnyvale-based Advanced Micro Devices (currently Amkor-Anam, one of the biggest semiconductor companies in the country) as an accounting manager, and finally settling for the last 20 years with the Lina Group of Companies as, until recently, president of Air21, the sole licensee of FedEx in the Philippines.

He will be following the footsteps of his corporate benefactor LGC chairman Bert Lina, who served as Customs commissioner during the tenure of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“I have as an advantage having worked with Mr. Lina, Secretary Purisima, and former BIR commissioner Willie Parayno,” said Alvarez, a part owner of Burger King. “I have been properly trained by two former
BoC commissioners and educated early on Customs matters.”

Outside his early orders from Purisima, the new BoC said he is looking to improve the image of his office.

“It needs transformation and we have to address the issue of its image,” Alvarez said. “I also hope to create a productive working environment, better salaries and benefits, in order to be able to render quality service and boost government collection.”

With his appointment to the BoC, Alvarez relinquishes his post as chairman of the PBA, turning over the job to current vice chairman Rene Pardo of B-Meg Derby Ace.

On Tuesday, Alvarez informed league governors, who were having their board meeting, of the news, inviting them to the turnover ceremony set Wednesday morning.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios was elated when told of Alvarez’s appointment.

“I am pleased and proud to hear the news,” said Barrios. “My exposure to him and his work ethic in the PBA gives me confidence that he has the necessary tools to do well in his job so he can significantly contribute to nation building.”

Pardo shares Barrios views.

"He is highly qualified and will be an asset to the BoC because Lito is a good manager and he has proven that with the Air21 team,” Pardo said. (pr)

SMB vs RAIN or SHINE IMAGES

PBA IMAGE1 - Gabe Freeman vs Jai Lewis
PBA IMAGE2 - Sol Mercado against Jonas Villanueva
PBA IMAGE3 - jai Lewis vs SMB's Mick Pennisi and Alex Cabagnot
PBA IMAGE4 - Alex Cabagnot driving against Sol Mercado