Three tall Filipino teenagers are now enrolled in US schools to hone their basketball skills in the hope of someday playing for the country in international competitions.
While they're considered “projects,” there's no doubt the future is bright in the cage careers of 6-9 Japeth Aguilar of Western Kentucky University, 6-9 Gian Chiu of Oberlin College and 6-11 Jericho de Guzman of Martin Methodist College.
Aguilar, who played two years for the Ateneo seniors, is averaging 3.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 15.3 minutes for the Hilltoppers this season. Against Kennesaw State last Friday, he compiled six points, three rebounds and four turnovers in 17 minutes as the varsity won, 96-61.
Western Kentucky is an NCAA Division I school that has produced NBA players Clarence Glover and Jim McDaniels. Another graduate was Fil-Am Kurtis Townsend, now University of Kansas assistant coach. Townsend's brother Ray played for UCLA and Golden State and Indiana in the NBA.
Aguilar was recruited by Hilltoppers coach Darrin Horn who has a reputation for spotting potential talent. Horn was credited for recruiting Dwayne Wade for Marquette. Aguilar and the Ivory Coast's Desire Gabon are the only foreigners in Horn's roster.
Chiu, 18, plays for NCAA Division III school Oberlin College. He played two years for Desert Christian high school in California before moving to Oberlin in Ohio. As a senior at Desert Christian, Chiu averaged 16.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots. He hit .520 from the field, scored at least 20 points in eight of 24 games and fired a high of 29 in Desert Christian's 62-48 win over Bloomington Christian. Chiu earned All-Conference second team honors and was named to the World Quest Academic team for being an A-student.
Oberlin coach Isaiah Cavaco said Chiu is the Yeomen's cornerstone. “Gian is an imposing presence in the paint on both ends of the floor,” said Cavaco. “We haven't had size like this in the last three years and he will add a whole new dimension to our team. He is very skilled with both hands, has great balance and is extremely long. I am looking forward to seeing what exactly Gian can do and helping him become a top player in our conference.”
The other day, Chiu collected 11 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots in an Oberlin pre-season game.
Chiu played for the Ateneo juniors before he was referred by Golden State Warriors scout Ron Michaels to Desert Christian for a tryout. Michaels saw Chiu play at the Nike camp in China.
Chiu's mother Mary Ann, a Metro Bank branch manager, said her son's dream is to play for the national team.
“Coach Luigi Trillo called to ask if Gian would be available to play 3-on-3 for the Philippines in the recent Asian Indoor Games in Macau,” said Mary Ann. “Gian was able to get permission from his coach to play but we didn't hear from coach Luigi again. He probably chose players who were already familiar with each other.”
Chiu's younger brother Luigi, 16, is 6-2 but isn't into basketball. His parents are both tall – father Emerson is 6-1 and Mary Ann, 5-11.
Although Chiu plays in Division III, he said the experience will go a long way in developing his game. “Whether it's Division I or III, Gian believes the important thing is he learns and improves,” said his mother.
De Guzman is red-shirting as a sophomore at National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) contender Martin Methodist in Pulaski, Tennessee. Redhawks coach Andy Sharpe will likely activate De Guzman next season.
De Guzman played briefly for FEU's B-team before leaving for the US.
FEU team owner Anton Montinola said De Guzman was with FEU only a few months. “He was sent to the US to train in a big man's camp,” added Montinola. “Very raw but he's a legit 6-11.”
De Guzman has been likened to 7-foot E. J. Feihl. With US training, he could develop into an inside force for the national team in the future.
A Fil-Am who decided to play in the Philippines is 6-11 Greg Fuentes Slaughter. The teenager is now enrolled at the University of the Visayas.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Filipina stars in South Pacific's U-K tour
Filipino talent continues to shine on the international stage. One big (literally and figuratively) proof is Sheila Francisco who has been wowing them with her performance as Bloody Mary in the current tour of South Pacific in England.
According to Girlie Rodis, Sheila was originally handpicked by the producer for the revival of the enduring hit musicale at the Royal National Theater in London a few years ago. Sheila was such a smash that producer Martin Dodd also handpicked her for the same role in the current tour.
"Miss Francisco is a real star," Dodd was quoted as saying. "She lights up the production with her portrayal of Bloody Mary. She has received rave reviews from our press here and the audience clearly love her performance, as we do. It is a great privilege for us to have her in our company."
"Sheila makes us proud to be Pinoy at a time when it is sometimes difficult to be."
Here are excerpts of the rave reviews Sheila has been collecting.
- From Blackpool Gazette/The StageBy Robin Duke
It also says something that America is still at war today just as it was in this 1943 tropical setting and that the racism central to its storyline still exists but, hey, musicals rarely let such things get in the way of a good knees-up and who would find the mercenary Bloody Mary (a winning performance by Sheila Francisco), out for a fast buck and prepared to marry her teenage daughter off to the highest bidder, half as appealing if she wasn't a politically incorrect parody of a pigeon English speaking big Polynesian?
- From Hull GazetteBy Jackie Foottit
All this against a backdrop of bored US navy men — starved of female company and not really enjoying their enforced stay in paradise — and the reality of island life, hilariously portrayed by Bloody Mary (Sheila Francisco) as she ekes out a living for her and her daughter.
- From Sentinel/Stoke On TrentBy Liz Rowly
As expected there were some great comedy moments throughout the production, with Chris Howell creating many laughs in his role as Luther Billis and Sheila Francisco doing the same if not more, as Bloody Mary; her mannerisms alone carry the character.
- From Bolton News (Manchester)By Lynn Ashwell
Some Enchanted Evening; I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair; There is Nothing Like a Dame, and a spine-tingling version of Bali Ha'i from the fantastic Sheila Francisco, who made the role of Bloody Mary, the native islander out to make a quick buck, her own.
- From Evening News (Manchester)By Kevin Bourke
Still, the show does boast a lusty, and well-received, Bloody Mary, played by Sheila Francisco, as well as a lively and accomplished supporting cast, that's encouragingly sizeable for a touring musical.
- From Evening News (Manchester)By Julie Taylor
If I were voting for charisma and stage presence, I would choose Sheila Francisco as Bloody Mary. Her timing and projection are second to none and her angry reaction when Jo refuses to marry her daughter is totally uninhibited.
- From Entertainment ManchesterBy Rachel Hammer
There was also a very humorous and clever performance from Sheila Francisco as Bloody Mary. She did a beautiful rendition of Bali Ha'i that sent shivers down my spine and did justice to the memorable Happy Talk where she teaches her daughter to talk through dance.
- From Edinburgh Evening News (Edinburgh)By Thom Diblin
Rather more memorable is Sheila Francisco as Polynesian entrepreneur, Bloody Mary. Not so much for her larger-than-life stage presence but for her voice. Harshly crackling when needed, she produces a magical rendition of Bali Ha'i to tempt Lt. Cable over to the island where her daughter lives.
- From Daily Info Oxford (Oxford)By Andre Hopkins
Dave Willetts as Emile de Becque was a dishy older guy convincingly reinvigorated by love, and has a wonderful rich chocolatey voice. Sheila Francisco as Bloody Mary was utterly fabulous — a formidable stage presence, her chunky scolding informing her splendiferous contralto and stealing every scene she was in.
- From Oxford TimesBy Giles Woodforde
Down the cast, there are spirited cameos from Sheila Francisco as Bloody Mary (so spirited that her words are sometimes indecipherable), Ian McLarnon as the upright, Princeton-educated Lt. Joseph Cable, David Alcock as prone-to-panic Capt. Brackett and Christopher Howell as skirt-chasing, lip-smacking Luther Billis.
- From Oxford Mail (Oxford)By Chris Gray
Its dark shadow is similarly cast over the love that develops between Lt. Joseph Cable (Ian McLarnon) and the native girl Liat (Kanako Nakano). This is a huge disappointment to her mother Bloody Mary, wheeler-dealer to the US forces occupying her idyllic island. As performed by Sheila Francisco, her songs Bali Ha'i and the hugely infectious Happy Talk are highlights of the show.
- From The Henley and Oxfordshire StandardBy Mary Scriven
Sheila Francisco's attack, and beautifully judged portrayal of this colourful character resulted in her holding the audience in the palm of her hand — could there be a remnant of her portrayal of the character in the Royal National Theatre's production to thank for that? Who knows — but if this South Pacific did seem at times to be a bit of a patchwork of directorial inspiration, then it was a colourful one, and kept you feeling nice and warm on an autumn evening.
- From Swansea Evening NewsBy Graham Williams
...while comedy relief is provided by Christopher Howell — whose portrayal of Luther Billis is an absolute hoot — and Sheila Francisco, whose full-blooded performance as Bloody Mary brought the house down on the opening night...
According to Girlie Rodis, Sheila was originally handpicked by the producer for the revival of the enduring hit musicale at the Royal National Theater in London a few years ago. Sheila was such a smash that producer Martin Dodd also handpicked her for the same role in the current tour.
"Miss Francisco is a real star," Dodd was quoted as saying. "She lights up the production with her portrayal of Bloody Mary. She has received rave reviews from our press here and the audience clearly love her performance, as we do. It is a great privilege for us to have her in our company."
"Sheila makes us proud to be Pinoy at a time when it is sometimes difficult to be."
Here are excerpts of the rave reviews Sheila has been collecting.
- From Blackpool Gazette/The StageBy Robin Duke
It also says something that America is still at war today just as it was in this 1943 tropical setting and that the racism central to its storyline still exists but, hey, musicals rarely let such things get in the way of a good knees-up and who would find the mercenary Bloody Mary (a winning performance by Sheila Francisco), out for a fast buck and prepared to marry her teenage daughter off to the highest bidder, half as appealing if she wasn't a politically incorrect parody of a pigeon English speaking big Polynesian?
- From Hull GazetteBy Jackie Foottit
All this against a backdrop of bored US navy men — starved of female company and not really enjoying their enforced stay in paradise — and the reality of island life, hilariously portrayed by Bloody Mary (Sheila Francisco) as she ekes out a living for her and her daughter.
- From Sentinel/Stoke On TrentBy Liz Rowly
As expected there were some great comedy moments throughout the production, with Chris Howell creating many laughs in his role as Luther Billis and Sheila Francisco doing the same if not more, as Bloody Mary; her mannerisms alone carry the character.
- From Bolton News (Manchester)By Lynn Ashwell
Some Enchanted Evening; I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair; There is Nothing Like a Dame, and a spine-tingling version of Bali Ha'i from the fantastic Sheila Francisco, who made the role of Bloody Mary, the native islander out to make a quick buck, her own.
- From Evening News (Manchester)By Kevin Bourke
Still, the show does boast a lusty, and well-received, Bloody Mary, played by Sheila Francisco, as well as a lively and accomplished supporting cast, that's encouragingly sizeable for a touring musical.
- From Evening News (Manchester)By Julie Taylor
If I were voting for charisma and stage presence, I would choose Sheila Francisco as Bloody Mary. Her timing and projection are second to none and her angry reaction when Jo refuses to marry her daughter is totally uninhibited.
- From Entertainment ManchesterBy Rachel Hammer
There was also a very humorous and clever performance from Sheila Francisco as Bloody Mary. She did a beautiful rendition of Bali Ha'i that sent shivers down my spine and did justice to the memorable Happy Talk where she teaches her daughter to talk through dance.
- From Edinburgh Evening News (Edinburgh)By Thom Diblin
Rather more memorable is Sheila Francisco as Polynesian entrepreneur, Bloody Mary. Not so much for her larger-than-life stage presence but for her voice. Harshly crackling when needed, she produces a magical rendition of Bali Ha'i to tempt Lt. Cable over to the island where her daughter lives.
- From Daily Info Oxford (Oxford)By Andre Hopkins
Dave Willetts as Emile de Becque was a dishy older guy convincingly reinvigorated by love, and has a wonderful rich chocolatey voice. Sheila Francisco as Bloody Mary was utterly fabulous — a formidable stage presence, her chunky scolding informing her splendiferous contralto and stealing every scene she was in.
- From Oxford TimesBy Giles Woodforde
Down the cast, there are spirited cameos from Sheila Francisco as Bloody Mary (so spirited that her words are sometimes indecipherable), Ian McLarnon as the upright, Princeton-educated Lt. Joseph Cable, David Alcock as prone-to-panic Capt. Brackett and Christopher Howell as skirt-chasing, lip-smacking Luther Billis.
- From Oxford Mail (Oxford)By Chris Gray
Its dark shadow is similarly cast over the love that develops between Lt. Joseph Cable (Ian McLarnon) and the native girl Liat (Kanako Nakano). This is a huge disappointment to her mother Bloody Mary, wheeler-dealer to the US forces occupying her idyllic island. As performed by Sheila Francisco, her songs Bali Ha'i and the hugely infectious Happy Talk are highlights of the show.
- From The Henley and Oxfordshire StandardBy Mary Scriven
Sheila Francisco's attack, and beautifully judged portrayal of this colourful character resulted in her holding the audience in the palm of her hand — could there be a remnant of her portrayal of the character in the Royal National Theatre's production to thank for that? Who knows — but if this South Pacific did seem at times to be a bit of a patchwork of directorial inspiration, then it was a colourful one, and kept you feeling nice and warm on an autumn evening.
- From Swansea Evening NewsBy Graham Williams
...while comedy relief is provided by Christopher Howell — whose portrayal of Luther Billis is an absolute hoot — and Sheila Francisco, whose full-blooded performance as Bloody Mary brought the house down on the opening night...
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