Birthday Greeting to Sir Peter Naron ( Nov 28 )

Another promising power forward in the PBL is Peter Naron, a mainstay of Burger City which, despite being rated as one of the teams to beat, finished seventh and last due to import problems. Reports have it that the Burger City management was having problems with its import and that certainly made it difficult for the Burger makers. Naron is a member of the RP Junior squad set to regain lost glory in the 11th Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) 19-and- under meet in Nagoya, Japan next month. He was born November 28, 1971 to Pedro Naron (deceased) and Leonor Caballo in Tagbilaran City but grew up in Bacolod. He is "the youngest of four kids (Ferdinand, Edward, Maritess and Peter). Peter played for the University of the Visayas high school and college teams before suiting up for Balls Bar, Lhuillier Jewelers, and El Rancho Beef Loaf in Cebu City. It was when El Rancho played as guest team in the PBL last year that Manila fans saw the promise in Naron. From there, he was signed up by Burger City coach Manolet Pineda who had to persistently plead to Cebu-based Eusebio Adolfo to allow his ward to join a Manila team. Pineda and Adolfo were once teammates at Mariwasa. Peter stands 6-3 but can also play as an off guard. In fact, he has a relatively good touch from the three-point area and that makes him more deadly. "Pero kulang pa ako sa dribbling skills at sa depensa. Ito ang aspect na gusto ko talagang i-improve sa laro ko, "said Peter. His inclination towards basketball was influenced by an uncle, George Naron, who once played for Utex and Tanduay. Of the Nationals's chance of winning the championship in the Asian Junior cagefest, he says, "Matangkad ang team namin. It's the tallest team ever assembled. Isa pa, mahaba ang naging preparation namin. That's why we have a good chance of winning the championship in Nagoya Three months ago, Peter was the object of a tug-of-war between dela Salle University and the University of the East. Both wanted to get his sevices for the coming UAAP games. Eventually Peter wound up with UE and will win don the Warriors' jersey come this year's UAAP wars.