JONES CUP: ASIAD BASKETBALL COACH ERAP ELATED
Manila, Sept. 7, 1998 - Basketball aficionado President Estrada hailed the Philippine Centennial Team that swept the 21st Jones Cup international basketball tournament in Taipei.
In a congratulatory message released by Malacañang, the President said the team's victory over top-notch teams from Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, Costa Rica and Taiwan, has brought honors to our country and people.
"The Centennial Team has certainly made a fitting contribution to our celebration of the 100th year of Philippine Independence," the President said.
He also said that the team's triumph in the Jones Cup, the second since 1986, "also shows to what heights of achievements we Filipinos can reach if we will all work hard together as a team."
"Indeed, in union there is strength; in strength there is victory," said the President, a former basketball player and an avid supporter of the sport, who is known to tape basketball games for viewing after work.
President Estrada was the team manager of the national cage team that won the gold medal in the 1995 Southeast Asian Games held in Bangkok.
The President last month urged businessmen and private corporations to support a fund-raising campaign for the 1998 Asian games, including the country's quest to regain supremacy in Asian basketball.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 1998 by PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved