ROME – Consul General Randy Arquiza of the Philippine Embassy in Italy has encouraged the young Filipino-Italian basketball players to continue their passion if they want to play in a big league like the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Arquiza made this remark during the final day of the Next Generation Under-21 InterCity Basketball Tournament at the Green Sports Arena in Rome, Italy on Sunday.
“In this tournament, who will be the next Dalph Panopio, Jose Carlos Cullar and Vince Magbuhos?” Arquiza said, referring to the three players born in Italy to migrant Filipino parents but are now playing in the PBA.
Magbuhos played for the Adamson Falcons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) before he was selected by the Meralco Bolts in the 2025 PBA Draft.
Before joining the PBA in 2023, Cullar also played in the UAAP’s rival collegiate league, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), for St. Benilde. He is now playing for Phoenix Fuel Masters.
Panopio, on the other hand, did not join any collegiate league in the Philippines but played in the NCAA Division I in the US before he was picked 3rd overall by Blackwater Bossing in the 2025 PBA draft.
Arquiza emphasized the important role of sports in balancing mind and body.
“May you continue on your passion and ‘anima sana in corpore sano’ (sound mind, sound body), balancing mental and physical health,” he said.
Organized by Next Generation led by founder and president Aphol Panopio, the Under-21 InterCity Basketball Tournament was participated in by seven teams, all composed of Fil-Italian players, this year.
Roma defeated Proudly Pinoy in the finals to win the championship of the 2026 edition. Other participating teams include Milano Farini, Iris Cup, Fil-United, M2 Basket Academy, and FEDAFILMO.
The Under-21 InterCity Tournament has been held annually since 2015, although this year’s edition marked its first under the Next Generation banner. (Alona Cochon/PNA)
