Six-foot-seven Fil-Am’s parents says no to Coach E

BRANDON ROSNER, a six-foot-seven 16-year old Filipino-American prospect, will not be donning the country’s colors in the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

“It’s off,” said national youth team head coach Eric Altamirano on Thursday.

“The possibility is not good. Ayaw ng parents,” said Altamirano, who is also preparing the under-18 national squad for the International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia Championships from September 22 to October 1 in Yemen.

Altamirano spotted Rosner when the under-18 team went to the United States and played against a team of Filipino-American high-school students in Indiana.

“He has the potential, but still very young,” said Altamirano.

According to Altamirano, Rosner is like a younger version of Nino Canaleta of B-MEG Derby Ace in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) but is built like Llamados center Rafi Reavis.

Rosner could have been a great addition on the Philippine three-on-three team to the Youth Olympic Games because of his height.

Altamirano has earlier picked six-foot-three Bobby Ray Parks Jr., son of seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks; Jeron Teng, son of former PBA forward Alvin Teng; and Michael Tolomia, younger brother of former PBA guard Chester Tolomia.

Rosner will be replaced by Michael Pate, a high-scoring player from La Salle Greenhills, on the three-on-three team. The Philippines is one of 20 nations invited to play in the three-on-three event of the first Youth Olympics Singapore is hosting in August.

The Filipinos are bracketed with Spain, South Africa, Croatia and the US Virgin Island in Group D. The RP squad has two win two matches in order to advance to the next round of the competition.

The Philippines plays the US Virgin Island on August 16 and Spain the following day. Croatia is the next assignment for the squad on August 18 and South Africa on August 19.