Sports: PHL 5 to Hold Clinics in Bacolod
The Discovery Perlas Pilipinas Women’s National Team, which placed second in last year’s 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia and was also in Bacolod City last September 28 to October 1, 2011 for the 1st Philippine Sports Commission-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Discovery Women’s Invitational Cup, will be back in the city this coming April to hold clinics.
This was confirmed yesterday by national head coach Haydee Ong, stating that they find the city to have great potential in women’s basketball.
It is recalled that during their last visit in the city, the squad initiated several campus tours where they meet a number of young cagebelles who are very interested in this sports.
The squad managed by Bacoleña Cynthia Lacson-Tiu and mentored by Ong, will be led by team captain and Ilongga Joan Grajales, co-skipper Cassandra Noel Tioseco, Negrense Karen Lomogda, Diana Rose Jose, Merenciana Ewonritseorlagha Arayi, Melissa Jacob, Aurora Adriano, Chovi Borja, Treena Ann Therese Limgenco, Analyn Almazan, Ma. Lalaine Flormata and Angeli Jo Gloriani.
The objective of this clinic is to further widen public awareness to this sports discipline as well as share the basic fundamental training to those aspiring cagebelles.
Meanwhile, on the pending issue of naturalization of 6’3” Chinese center Zheng Xiao Jing, coach Ong said that they felt hopeless to get the Congress’ approval on their application. “Hindi na kami umaasa kasi busy ang Congress sa impeachment,” Ong explained.
Zheng’s application was filed in Congress parallel to the period when Smart Gilas’ center Marcus Douthit submitted his papers. Douthit’s application for naturalization was long been approved.
The 27 year-old Zheng has been in and out of the Philippines for almost 3 years joining the national team’s camps.
During the last interview with Zheng, she said that it’s her personal decision to become a naturalized-Filipino. “I hope they [Congress] approve my application. I love the Philippines and I love the Filipino people. I hope one day, I will also be a Filipino,” she said.
In that 3 years that Zheng has been coming in and out of the Philippines, she has able to speak and understand few Filipino words. But amazingly, she can sing and understand the Philippine national anthem.*
