Flying V Thunder out to make noise in PBA D-League
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Flying V Thunder out to make noise in PBA D-League
Camille B. Naredo,
ABS-CBN News
Published Apr 16, 2017 05:23 PM PHT
MANILA, Philippines – The newly formed Flying V Thunder are expected to make some noise immediately when they make their debut in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup that starts on May 25.
MANILA, Philippines – The newly formed Flying V Thunder are expected to make some noise immediately when they make their debut in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup that starts on May 25.
The team, backed by FilOil Flying V and coached by Eric Altamirano, has yet to unveil its roster, but Flying V chairman Ramon F. Villavicencio is hopeful that they can make an immediate impact in the league's new conference.
The team, backed by FilOil Flying V and coached by Eric Altamirano, has yet to unveil its roster, but Flying V chairman Ramon F. Villavicencio is hopeful that they can make an immediate impact in the league's new conference.
"By the word itself, Thunder, it's supposed to create a lot of noise," Villavicencio told reporters last Monday.
"By the word itself, Thunder, it's supposed to create a lot of noise," Villavicencio told reporters last Monday.
He tried not to put too much pressure on the new team, however.
He tried not to put too much pressure on the new team, however.
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"Whether it's gonna create effectivity, we don't know. Let's see them play (first)," he said.
"Whether it's gonna create effectivity, we don't know. Let's see them play (first)," he said.
This is not Flying V's first foray into sports. The company is also among the backers of the De La Salle University basketball team and has led the way in renovating the San Juan Arena, which is now known as the FilOil Flying V Centre.
This is not Flying V's first foray into sports. The company is also among the backers of the De La Salle University basketball team and has led the way in renovating the San Juan Arena, which is now known as the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Its entry in the PBA D-League is due in part to Villavicencio's desire to put together a team that features players from different teams uniting in one squad.
Its entry in the PBA D-League is due in part to Villavicencio's desire to put together a team that features players from different teams uniting in one squad.
"I hope that the players of the Flying V Thunder would be composed of people that played in different teams and competed with each other," said Villavicencio. "So if I could have this, that they would be playing together, that would be unity in diversity."
"I hope that the players of the Flying V Thunder would be composed of people that played in different teams and competed with each other," said Villavicencio. "So if I could have this, that they would be playing together, that would be unity in diversity."
Villavicencio knows that the D-League's primary directive is to serve as basketball players' entry point to the PBA, and through the Thunder, he hopes to create more chances for players who dream of making it to the big league.
Villavicencio knows that the D-League's primary directive is to serve as basketball players' entry point to the PBA, and through the Thunder, he hopes to create more chances for players who dream of making it to the big league.
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"The more teams that there are in the D-League, the more players that can be in the pool of players who are chosen (to the PBA)," he explained. "So I am trying to give more chances for the potential players to show their worth, to show their skills."
"The more teams that there are in the D-League, the more players that can be in the pool of players who are chosen (to the PBA)," he explained. "So I am trying to give more chances for the potential players to show their worth, to show their skills."
Thus, Villavicencio is keeping his expectations for the team modest, even though he will have a seasoned tactician in Altamirano calling the shots for the Thunder.
Thus, Villavicencio is keeping his expectations for the team modest, even though he will have a seasoned tactician in Altamirano calling the shots for the Thunder.
"Siyempre, sasabihin ko (gusto ko mag) champion," said Villavicencio. "Of course, we're coming in positive, and it depends on the players that we will eventually get. No pressure. The important thing is we join (the D-League), that we are part of it."
"Siyempre, sasabihin ko (gusto ko mag) champion," said Villavicencio. "Of course, we're coming in positive, and it depends on the players that we will eventually get. No pressure. The important thing is we join (the D-League), that we are part of it."
Though the team will be evaluated after its performance in the Foundation Cup, Villavicencio anticipates that they will be in the D-League for the long haul, and the Flying V boss is not yet thinking about making the leap to the PBA in the future.
Though the team will be evaluated after its performance in the Foundation Cup, Villavicencio anticipates that they will be in the D-League for the long haul, and the Flying V boss is not yet thinking about making the leap to the PBA in the future.
"For you to go to the PBA, you have to do a lot of things to deserve that," he said. "You cannot do that in just one year or two years. You have to work it out and deserve it."
"For you to go to the PBA, you have to do a lot of things to deserve that," he said. "You cannot do that in just one year or two years. You have to work it out and deserve it."
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For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.
For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.
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