Seven-foot cager boosts Aussie team’s frontline vs RP 5

MANILA, Philippines – Australian team Hoopdreamz Great White Sharks has just added a seven-foot bruising center to bolster its frontline in their coming two-game exhibition series against the Powerade-Pilipinas Men’s basketball team. Hoopdreamz Australia club director Marco Selorio informed GMANews.TV that its newest member is slotman Patrick Pilae. The 26-year-old Pilae is expected to match-up with RP team’s big men Asi Taulava and Mick Pennisi. A player with Samoan blood but is now currently residing in Western Sydney, Pilae will be an added value in Australia’s formidable frontline headed by playing coach Bruce Bolden (six-foot-nine), slotman Anthony Susnjara (six-foot-10), Goran Veg (six-foot-nine) and forward Grame Dann (six-foot-seven). “It is expected to become a highly physical game that is why we decided to bring in Patrick Pilae. He is primed to go head-to-head against the Philippines’ own colossal duo, Asi Taulava and Mick Pennisi," said Selorio. Pilae also played in the Australian rugby league during the winter season. He terrorized his opponents by running hard with the ball and uses his strength at will. He is expected to create havoc against the Nationals inside the paint with his imposing body and skills. Bolden was a former player of the year in the Australian National Basketball League. Although already 44 years old, Selorio said Bolden still plays competitive basketball. Susnjara was Rosell Ellis’ teammate with the Townsville Crocodiles and was a member of the Sydney Kings team that played in the 2006 NBL finals. Dann came from a good basketball program – the Australian Institute of Sports, regarded as one of the best sports institutions in the world and also played in the New South Wales Under-18 and Under-20 teams. “We are looking to take advantage of our size and strength. By adding Pilae to the equation we feel that we can really make some serious match-up problems inside. Our team has only one goal – win. We are the underdogs, and we know how formidable the RP side is," said the Sydney-based Selorio, a renowned Filipino-Australian hip hop and basketball producer. The Great White Sharks squad will arrive on April 2. They will spend time practicing at the JRU Gym in the afternoon. – GMANews.TV