The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, August 25, 1995                TAG: 9508250052
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E9   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Teenology 
SOURCE: BY MICHELLE MIZAL, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

FOUR LOCAL HOOPS TEAMS GOING TO FILIPINO TOURNEY

ON SATURDAY, FOUR local teams will represent Virginia at the 1995 Filipino Inter-city Basketball League of North America Championship in Ottawa, Canada.

The tournament, which is in its 19th year, hosts teams from four Canadian cities and seven U.S. cities, including New York, Philadelphia and Virginia Beach. In 1997, Virginia plays host.

The players won their spots at the Filipino Basketball Championships at Princess Anne Middle School last Saturday.

Gil Cruz, founder of the Virginia basketball tournaments, predicted that this year's local teams are going to take the trophies home. Cruz, who is from Virginia Beach, started the tournaments in 1991 in an attempt to break up the growing number of Filipino gangs. Now, with gang numbers almost down to zero, former gang members are hyped up to shoot the hoops.

Players on this year's Philippine dream teams include:

Pee Wee Team - Elfner Deguia, Jeremy Calazara, Tommy Moskal, Derrick Cruz and Darnell Macapinlac all of Salem High School; Allan Tuzon and Daves Matro of Kellam High; Julius Dacumus of Churchland High; Jason Espinosa of Kempsville High; and Adrian Laxa of Tallwood High. Jess Deguia, coach. Sponsor: Silerio Enterprises; owner Romy Silerio.

18-and-under team: Jerome Guanlao of Booker T. Washington High; Wendell Cruz and Danny Ibanez of Salem High; Mike Kittrel and Martin Briones of Bayside High; Jay Gundran, K.V. Vito-Cruz and Jun Madera of Tallwood High; Felix Hunt and John Bruber of Maury High; and Brandon Vera of Granby High. Gil Cruz, coach. Sponsor: Regent Forex of Virginia; owner Joe Cabaccan.

Open division team: Jonathan Gonzaga, Anthony Bagtas, Noel Gemo, Jun Santana, Romy Malonzo, Joy Arenas, Robert Johnson, Danny Nachman, Ric Benitez, Chris Laylo and Zaldy Gabriel. Rolly Matro and Chill Esperat, coaches. Sponsor, Lita's Oriental; owner Lita Caimol.

Senior division: Bong Guanlao, Joe Macapinlac, Romy Silerio, Gil Cruz, Noel Tomas, Rolly Matro, Ric Soriano, Nick Corral, Mado Laxa, Wally Briones and Rey Esteban. Bong Guanlao and Atoy Cabral, coaches. Sponsor: Silerio Enterprises. by CNB