Filipino Ballers Update:
Matthew Wright & St.Bonaventure Bonnies vs. UCF
-CBI Tournament 1st Rd(March 16)
Good Luck to them!!
http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/tavita_jace00.html
Jace Tavita March 20 at 11:25pm Report
Yeah I'm filipino and hawaiian on my moms side...
Sent via Facebook Mobile
#22 Jace Tavita
Position: Guard
Height: 6-4
Class: Junior
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Previous School: University of Utah
Joined the team in January 2011...must redshirt 2010-11 season per NCAA transfer rules.
Prior To UH: Played at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City…appeared in 60 career games beginning from the 2008-09 season… as freshman, saw action in 25 games, making four starts ... recorded 17 assists, made two blocks and one steal…part of squad that captured the Mountain West regular season and tournament titles ... played in 30 games, making 19 starts as a sophomore...averaged 1.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 19.1 minutes ... handed out 59 assists ...played in five games in 2010-11, averaging 1.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 16 minutes a game…selected as a team captain prior to the season.
Prep: A 2008 graduate of Brighton High School in Salt Lake City, Utah…led Brighton to the state semifinals and regional championship as a senior ...named 5A MVP ... named first-team all-state by Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune ... averaged 25 points, six rebounds and eight assists as a senior ... posted a 3.5 GPA every trimester of his senior year.
Personal: Born in San Francisco, Calif… majoring in sociology…parents are Gilbert and Ginger Tavita of Salt Lake City, Utah.
http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8858&path=mbball
OT
where does this guy "Rich Hardin" used to play pro-ball? His profile says he's a pro-baller, how come i never heard him playing in the PBA or even the PBL.
There is a new Fil-Am prospect for the PBA D-league & eventually PBA. Phillip Morrison from Asbury University in Kentucky, USA. He plays at the NAIA level & was named All-Conference & an NCCAA All-American.
6'0, 170lbs Point Guard/Shooting Guard
09-10 Season Stats:
20.7pts, 3 reb, 3ast
10-11 Season Stats:
21.7 pts, 3 reb, 50.6%FG, 43%3pt, 83%FT
Articles/Links:
http://www.asbury.edu/athletics/men/mens-basketball/roster/phillip-morrison
http://www.asbury.edu/athletics/men...earns-second-straight-kiac-player-week-honors
http://www.asbury.edu/athletics/men...ison-leads-eagles-second-half-rout-over-berea
we could invite him to play for sinag or gilas There is a new Fil-Am prospect for the PBA D-league & eventually PBA. Phillip Morrison from Asbury University in Kentucky, USA. He plays at the NAIA level & was named All-Conference & an NCCAA All-American.
6'0, 170lbs Point Guard/Shooting Guard
09-10 Season Stats:
20.7pts, 3 reb, 3ast
10-11 Season Stats:
21.7 pts, 3 reb, 50.6%FG, 43%3pt, 83%FT
Articles/Links:
http://www.asbury.edu/athletics/men/mens-basketball/roster/phillip-morrison
http://www.asbury.edu/athletics/men...earns-second-straight-kiac-player-week-honors
http://www.asbury.edu/athletics/men...ison-leads-eagles-second-half-rout-over-berea
http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/tavita_jace00.html
Jace Tavita March 20 at 11:25pm Report
Yeah I'm filipino and hawaiian on my moms side...
Sent via Facebook Mobile
#22 Jace Tavita
Position: Guard
Height: 6-4
Class: Junior
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Previous School: University of Utah
Joined the team in January 2011...must redshirt 2010-11 season per NCAA transfer rules.
Prior To UH: Played at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City…appeared in 60 career games beginning from the 2008-09 season… as freshman, saw action in 25 games, making four starts ... recorded 17 assists, made two blocks and one steal…part of squad that captured the Mountain West regular season and tournament titles ... played in 30 games, making 19 starts as a sophomore...averaged 1.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 19.1 minutes ... handed out 59 assists ...played in five games in 2010-11, averaging 1.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 16 minutes a game…selected as a team captain prior to the season.
Prep: A 2008 graduate of Brighton High School in Salt Lake City, Utah…led Brighton to the state semifinals and regional championship as a senior ...named 5A MVP ... named first-team all-state by Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune ... averaged 25 points, six rebounds and eight assists as a senior ... posted a 3.5 GPA every trimester of his senior year.
Personal: Born in San Francisco, Calif… majoring in sociology…parents are Gilbert and Ginger Tavita of Salt Lake City, Utah.
http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8858&path=mbball
How Time Flies ................
If Greg stayed ..... he could be with the Rams who'll be facing the Butler Bulldogs in the coming NCAA Division I FINAL FOUR.
sir nardy, care to share some background story on greggyman?
how he discovered the philippines and how he was able to come here.
all i know was he came here from US high school --looks like what i know's wrong-- to play here in the visayas region.
i remember back then when greggyman was still a greggyboi,he was rumored to be a black 7 footer. lol
i even paired him with rumored fil-am ronnie aguilar in my nba live game. lol
How Time Flies ................
If Greg stayed ..... he could be with the Rams who'll be facing the Butler Bulldogs in the coming NCAA Division I FINAL FOUR.
pachador said:Boom !!!
June 06, 2007
University of Visayas ‘steals’ Fil-Am giant
By Marian C. Baring
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
EVEN before the season starts, Filipino-American cager Gregory Fuentes-Slaughter is already wreaking havoc after the University of Cebu (UC) and University of the Visayas (UV) got locked in a tug-of-war in an attempt to tap his services for their respective varsities.
UC, which was the first to discover the 6-foot-11 talent from Virginia, USA, has already paraded Slaughter around their school.
They also let him practice with the UC Webmasters and introduced him to the university’s owner, Augusto Go.
UC’s mind was made up, Slaughter’s was not.
Apparently, at the same time, UV was also pursuing Slaughter.
After all the troubles they went to, UC has conceded, as it could not match the offer presented by UV to Slaughter.
“It is very upsetting because we thought that he will play with us. But UC never prevents its players from seeking greener pastures. UV made a monetary offer which UC could not counter. We could give him a good education, an ample practice allowance, but that’s about it,” said UC head coach Rhoel Gomez.
In principle, Slaughter has not yet enrolled in any school and is still weighing his options before making a decision.
According to Gomez, however, UV has won this round.
“I have spoken with Slaughter’s uncle and he told me that they will no longer look for other schools, including those in Manila, because they are satisfied with UV’s offer,” Gomez said.
UV head coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug admitted to have already recruited Slaughter, and said they made him an offer he could not refuse.
“We (Cabahug, Didi and Eddie Gullas) assured him that we will take care of him after his playing years are over. If he wants to pursue his ambition to go professional, we will help him achieve that,” Cabahug said.
Cabahug was mum about the monetary side of the offer and did not confirm nor deny rumors that Slaughter was offered a P25,000 monthly allowance.
“It is not about the money. It is more on the privileges that even their relatives could enjoy. You see, Sir Eddie wants the players to be able to help their families while playing,” said Cabahug.
Cabahug said that not only do their players get to study at the university for free, but the players’ relatives could also go to school for free as well.
Cabahug said that it has been UV’s attractive compensation that draws the players to them.
“History tells you that it is the players who come to us. That is why we have a huge pool of good players,” said Cabahug, who steered UV to six straight championships.
Cabahug said while he is confident that they will still dominate this year’s Cesafi, his recruitment of Slaughter is to boost the team’s chances for the National Inter-Collegiate league, which UV has still not won.
Cabahug also added if Slaughter decides to play for UV, then it will be the first time that a Filipino-American plays for them.
Greg Slaughter: Q & A with the triple MVP
October 12, 2008
Greg Slaughter (left); Sun.Star Cebu photo
Less than 48 hours after leading the University of the Visayas (UV) to its eighth Cesafi basketball title, I sat down with not only the tallest person at the Ayala Center Cebu last Friday—but also the only player in Cesafi’s eight-year history to be named the season MVP, the All-Star game MVP and the Finals MVP.
Together with UV shooting guard (and his best friend) Von Lanete, who’s headed for the PBL on Tuesday to play with Harbour Centre, Greg Slaughter and I exchanged stories during lunch at Bigby’s Restaurant. Von and Greg had just finished lifting weights at the Fitness First—and were famished. And so, just between the three of us, we ordered two large plates of sandwiches, two bowls of pasta, a plateful of quesadillas and their Rack-a-bye Ribs. For nearly two hours, I queried Cebu’s 20-year-old superstar…
With UV shooting guard Von LaneteHow was your childhood? “My dad, William, met my mom, Emma (Fuentes), when he visited Cebu many years back. They got married and I was born in Ohio. My dad worked for nuclear power plants and so, when I was very young, we moved around a lot. When I was 7 years old, we relocated to Virginia… that’s where I studied and where my parents still live until today.”
How did you become so tall? “My dad is 6-foot-3. My mom’s 5’7”. So, yes, they’re tall but not super, super tall. My dad’s and mom’s relatives are not also very tall, so I don’t know… I’m just really tall.”
How big a baby were you? “I was 11-plus pounds at birth! My mom would later tell me that I was the second-biggest baby ever born in that hospital.”
At what age did you reach 6 feet tall? “When I was 12. I was, obviously, always the tallest in school. And when I finally started playing serious basketball at the age of 15, I was 6-foot-6.”
Since you’re only 20 years old, you think you’ll grow that one extra inch to be 7-feet-tall? “Well, when I wear these (looking at his black adidas shoes), I’m over 7-feet-tall. But, without shoes, I should be a little over 6’11.” But, yeah, I hope to be a 7-footer.”
When you fully stretch your arms, how near the basketball ring are you? “Maybe 8 inches away from the ring. I can tap the backboard and grip the middle of the net. So it’s just a few inches of jumping then I’m on the ring.”
Apart from basketball, what other sports did you play as a child? “Fencing.
My dad was into fencing when I was young and I took up the sport. I had this big advantage because of my height and, especially, my reach. I’d fully stretch my arm and it would be difficult for opponents to hit me. That was fun.”
I watched you play Cesafi last year and found you moving awkwardly. How did you improve so much in 12 months? “I practiced everyday. We’d scrimmage a lot, joined leagues. Our coaches Boy (Cabahug) and Al (Solis) practiced us hard, Monday to Saturday from 3 to 7 or 8 p.m.”
Your free throws are excellent. In the Cesafi Finals Game 2, I saw you make 8 of 9. What, unlike Shaq, is your secret? “Coach Boy (Cabahug) asks all the players to shoot 50 free-throws everyday before we start practice. Not 50 attempts—but 50 free-throws in. That goes for all UV players. That helped. Also, because of my height and because I’ll get a lot of fouls and will also be shooting free throws, I always hear this comment, ‘Gotta make those free throws, they’re important to the game.’ So I remember that line.”
Favorite NBA player? “Tim Duncan! He’s so good… so good. He’s not flashy and gets the job done. He’s also a two-time MVP. The thing with Duncan is he doesn’t look dominant—but he is dominant! And so I watch a lot of his games and try to follow him. One time, I followed his signature move… attempting to score a hook shot, faking, turning, then driving in for a lay-up… I tried the same move and it worked. I love that move.”
Hobbies? “I love playing videogames, the PSP (Sony Playstation). I just finished the game, ‘God of War.’ I also play card games around my neighborhood. We play tong-its!”
The ‘Tim Duncan’ of Cebu basketball speaks
October 14, 2008
Last Friday, I sat down for lunch with Greg Slaughter and asked him a plateful of questions. Here is the rest of my Q & A with the Cebu basketball phenomenon who stands nearly 7-foot-tall (…now I know why his jersey is No.7).
Greg (center) dwarfs John Pages and Von Lanete
How does Cebu compare to your home in Virginia, U.S.A.? “I really like the people in Cebu. They’re more friendly. People here, especially families, help each other out. So I really like it here. In Virginia, we lived there for 10 years and I didn’t even know the people around my neighborhood. In the States, it’s more individualistic. Here, generally, people are more friendly.”
Are you American or Filipino? (Laughs.) “I’m both. I carry two passports. And, when I’m lining for immigration, I show both passports. So I’m both. I’m Fil-Am.”
Best friend in Cebu? (He points to the man seated beside him, Von Lanete, the star UV guard who’ll be joining the Harbour Centre PBL team.) “We get along very well. Ever since our first practice last year with UV, Von and I have become really good friends.”
How popular have you become? “Well, because of my height, everywhere I go people stare at me. But now, especially with the Cesafi All-Star and the Finals, people recognize me more. A few days ago, we were at the beach and someone approaches to congratulate me for playing well. Here in the (Ayala) mall, people come up to me to shake hands.”
Girlfriend(s)? (Laughs out loud then points to Von.) “He’s got plenty. No comment on my part.” (Then Von points to Greg and speaks.) “He’s got a girlfriend… on and off.”
Your goal? “The PBA. Maybe also the RP team, if I’m called. But it’s got to be the PBA. Which team? The team that pays the highest! (Laughs.) But, seriously, I want to go pro.”
When? “I don’t know. Maybe next year. Maybe two years from now. It all depends if there are offers. I also want to take the next one or two years to continue improving myself. I want to be ready before I join the big league.”
What do you need to improve? “Everything! My left hook, my right hook… my footwork… my running… my perimeter shooting… everything. I’m also doing a lot to strengthen my legs. I’m doing a lot of gym work, especially squatting and, without any gym weights, doing the ‘invisible chair’ where I bend my knees to harden the leg muscles.”
Know how to speak Cebuano? “Gamay. (Laughs.) It’s easier to understand than it is to speak. So I understand the basic Cebuano words.”
Like? “It’s funny because the very first word I learned—and I still remember this until now—is ‘manananggal.’ It’s funny but I just remember that word. Maybe I saw it first on some TV show.”
How does this season compare to last year? “Big difference. When I arrived last year, I got sick a lot. Maybe it was where I stayed… at our quarters. But since I moved to my uncle Fernando’s house (the younger brother of her mom, Emma) in Mambaling, I’ve really improved, health-wise. I’m also able to eat more. Also, last year, I had a hard time adjusting, especially when we practiced or played at the (Cebu) Coliseum. I got pneumonia, had colds… people would smoke inside the Coliseum or they’d roast peanuts… I’m allergic to the smoke from roasted peanuts. But now, I’m healthier.”
Your body weight? Shoe size? “I’m 240 lbs. When I arrived last year, I was around 235—so I gained some weight, possibly added muscle. Shoe size? I’m a size 15… but my feet are starting to hurt and I’ll have to get size 16. It’s difficult buying that size here. I often ask my parents (who’ll be coming here for Christmas) to bring me some.”
What’s next? “Well, the next major event is the Champions League, which pits all the top college teams. Last year, we reached the finals and lost to Ateneo. This year, the event is in November… so that will be exciting. It was difficult last year because, coming from out-of-town, you’d have to wait several days in-between games. It’s a big advantage to the Manila teams because they live there. For us, from Cebu, it’s difficult. But it will be exciting to play Ateneo, La Salle, San Beda….”
Well, I wish those Manila teams good-luck. For as they face UV, they’ll be welcomed into Greg’s Slaughterhouse!