Canadian Collegiate All-Star to Join USC Warriors' Scrimmage

The USC Warriors may be doing the next best thing to finding a real big man: learning how to play bigger guys. For the lack of big men available, the current Warriors' big men may have to learn how to play UV's Greg Slaughter and UC's Junmar Fajardo by going against a giant in practice. Canadian collegiate league all-star Andrew Spagrud is in town to join the USC Warriors as they resume practice today. The 6'8" University of Saskatchewan alumnus actually led the CIS in scoring(21.8 points per game), was 2nd in rebounding(9.9 rebounds per game), 2nd in steals(2.53 steals per game) and 2nd in minutes played(35.1 minutes per game). He was a 4-time CIS first team all-star and 1 time second team all-star. He was also CIS rookie of the year in 2004. Spagrud graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

Dumaguete High School Star Wants to Join the USC Warriors

Joshua Pia, an 18-year old fresh high school graduate has expressed his intention to tryout for a slot in the University of San Carlos Warriors basketball team. The 5'11" combo guard from Taclobo High School in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental was a star in the Dumaguete secondary level basketball competitions. He was referred to a USC alumni through Asian College of Science and Technology Lightnings head coach Michael Villahermosa. Although the Warriors are loaded at the backcourt positions, Pia hopes to impress USC head coach and basketball director Mike Reyes with his play. USC will also be losing point guard Paul Norman Joven(5'10", point guard), small forwards Gene Noel Gallarde(6'0", small forward), Sam Jordan Hermosa(6'0", small forward) and Lord Alfred Vitug(5'11", small forward) and power forward Edward Bakker(6'2", power forward) next year and might consider Pia as a cornerstone of a major rebuilding effort alongside 6'3" prospect Rommel Campaner.

USC Warriors Get Feelers from Aldave, Dela Rama

Don Bosco Greywolves big men Jefford Aldave(6'5", center) and Christopher Dela Rama(6'4", center/forward) have sent feelers to USC Warriors assistant coach Ryan Jem Betia about their possible defection to the USC Warriors' camp. The rumored transfer of Dela Rama and Aldave to USC comes amid rumors of the possible disbandment of the DBTC Greywolves for the 2009 CeSAFI basketball season. Dela Rama and Aldave will surely add ceiling to the USC Warriors basketball team as both are taller than all active players at USC. Robert Codilla is USC's tallest player at the moment at 6'3".

Ex-USC Warrior Rowe Blanked in Nike Summer League Debut

Former University of San Carlos Warriors Fil-Australian forward John Emel Rowe(6'4", forward) played sparingly for the San Beda College Red Lions in the 2009 Nike Summer League. Rowe played just 4 minutes in the Red Lions 59-50 victory over the Philippine College of Criminology. He missed his only attempt but otherwise did well on defense. Rowe averaged 7.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for the USC Warriors in CeSAFI Season 8 and helped USC cop third place en route to qualifying for the Philippine Collegiate Championships via a zone qualifier in Cagayan de Oro City. USC got eliminated by eventual champions De La Salle University Green Archers in the Sweet 16.

Alfred Ferraren Declines USC Warriors Invitation

Asian College of Science And Technology Dumaguete Lightnings senior forward Alfred Ferraren has initially declined the invitation to join USC Warriors in training. The 6'3" power forward insinuated that he preferred to find a job to help support his family after his playing career at ACSAT is over. Earlier, his former teammate Rene Jun Saycon(6'3", forward) also opted for the University of the Visayas Green Lancers despite the persistence of ACSAT coach Michael Villahermosa to join USC instead.

Cameroon Players Express Interest in Joining the USC Warriors

Former Philippine School of Business Administration Blue Devils Cameroonian point guard Roger "Ben" Bikonte made an effort to get in touch with a USC alumnus regarding the interests of his friends in Cameroon to obtain a basketball scholarship in the Philippines. 6'6" center Karim Abdul and 6'3" point guard Aziz Mbeumoke are requesting for an invitation letter so they can process their travel documents. The Cameroonian pair are also in touch with the University of Sto. Tomas Tigers of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Should any of them join the USC Warriors, they will be the first full-blooded foreign players of the CeSAFI basketball competitions.

Ex-USC Warrior Rowe Suits up for San Beda Red Lions in Nike Summer League

CeSAFI Basketball 2008 All-Star Mythical Team forward and ex-USC Warrior John Emel Rowe(6'4", forward) is listed in the roster of the San Beda College Red Lions in the 2009 Nike Summer League. The do-it-all Rowe got a chance to crack the Red Lions lineup through the help of former oil executive Bernardo "Nardy" Madrasto, an SBC alumnus. Rowe will team up with SBC's American import Sudan Daniel and is being eyed as an able replacement to the estranged Ogie Menor.

Rowe of Melbourne, Australia averaged 7.5 points and 5.1 rebounds for the USC Warriors in the 8th CeSAFI basketball season last year and was named to the CeSAFI All-Star Selection that finished second in the 17th Super Kung Sheung Cup in Hong Kong last December.