David shows sterner stuff

IF one’s character is gauged by how he bounces back from adversity, then Gary David is indeed setting a high enough standard.

The fiery shooting guard rebounded big-time from two sorry games to set a new career milestone, boost Powerade past a feared foe and earn for himself the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors for the period Oct. 24 to 30.

The 33-year-old scattered a career-high 42 points against the Petron Blaze Boosters last Sunday in leading the Tigers to a 108-94 win that cut short their two-game skid caused, as most think, by David unusually failing to rise to the occasion.

In an 80-97 loss to B-Meg last Wednesday, David was held to just seven points, the first time in the last five conferences or since he returned in the 2009-10 season to the franchise that picked him at 10^th overall in the 2004 Draft that the prolific scorer was limited to a single-digit number.

Versus Barangay Ginebra, the league scoring champion the past two seasons hastened their sorry 72-73 downfall with two missed charities in the last 12 seconds.

The manner his star player put those pitiful outings behind him pleased Powerade coach Bo Perasol no end.

“For a player to rise up from two heartbreaking games and score 42 points against a formidable opponent like Petron, it really highlights what a gem of a player Gary David is,” said Perasol.

“It is just fitting that he should be recognized. Well deserved.”

David said his teammates never gave up on him and a welcome advice from some family members didn't hurt either.

“Pinayuhan ako ng mga pinsan ko na kalimutan ko iyung last two games na ‘yon,” he related. “Kinalimutan ko at mukhang nakatulong naman.”

It clearly showed as he went 4-of-6 from the three-point area, 11-of-13 from the two-point zone and 8-of-10 from the stripes. He also added seven rebounds and four assists and committed just two turnovers in 38 minutes.(pr)

Maynilad battles Freego Jeans, Blackwater takes on Powerade in KO matches

Maynilad battles Freego Jeans and Blackwater takes on Powerade in a
pair of knockout matches as the PBA D-League first round playoffs gets
going Thursday at the Arena in San Juan.

Frankie Lim, the Maynilad coach, is expecting a tough grind when the
Water Dragons and the Falcons mix it up at 2 o’clock.

He said the Water Dragons will be without Sudan Daniel, who is
sidelined by an injury.

The Water Dragons have just returned from a basketball training camp
in the United States and should be in top shape going into the crucial
match.

“We’re looking forward to the next round. But Freego is a dangerous
team and well coached,” Lim said.

“It will not be easy for us to beat them since we are playing without Sudan.”

The 4 p.m. encounter between the Tigers and the Elite also promises to
be interesting.

“It’s going to be a big challenge for us going up against Blackwater.
We’ll surely have our hands full trying to contain them,” said Junior
Powerade coach Ricky Dandan.

The Junior Tigers clinched the last playoff berth in Group B by
eliminating Café France with a 77-65 win in their knockout match
Tuesday.

TELECAST OF THESE GAMES WILL FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY 

AT 6PM OVER 1BC-13...

Powerade Jr. vs. Cebuana Lhuillier photos



PBA IMAGE6 - Jr. Powerade center Magi Sison #10 protects the ball from Mathew Lee #55 of Cebuana.



PBA IMAGE5 - Jr. Powerade guard Mike Gamboa #4 dribbles around Cebuana's Alwin Elinon #30.



PBA IMAGE4 - Jr. Powerade guard Mike Gamboa #4 steals the ball from Alfred Mandani #5 of Cebuana.



PBA IMAGE3 - James Sena #31 of Cebuana denies the shot attempt of James Martinez #6 of Jr. Powerade. 



PBA IMAGE1 - Cebuana's Kevin Alas #6 and Kelly Nabong #23 rumbling for the ball against Jr. Powerade's Brian Ilad.





PBA IMAGE2 - Cebuana's Allein Maliksi (left) and Mathew Lee #55 battles for the rebound against Jr. Powerade's Alvin Padilla.



Cebuana Lhuillier aims for 3rd straight win

PBA D-League Foundation Cup
Team Standings

               Group A

                                           W     L
Pharex                                  2      1
NLEX                                   2      1
PC Gilmore                           2      1
Black Water                          1      1
RnW Pacific Pipes                1      2
Freego Jeans                         0      2


              Group B
                                            W     L

Cobra Energy Drink              2      0
Cebuana Lhuillier                 2      0
Maynilad                               2      1
FCA                                       1      1
Max! Bond Super Glue          1      1
Junior Powerade                     0      2
Café France                            0      3

Games Thursday
(EAC gym)
2 p.m. – Freego Jeans vs Black Water
4 p.m. – Junior Powerade vs Cebuana Lhuillier


Cebuana Lhuillier aims for its third straight win and the Group B lead
when it battles winless Junior Powerade Thursday in the PBA D-League
Foundation Cup at Emilio Aguinaldo College gym.

The Gems and the Tigers (0-2) may be poles apart but Luigi Trillo, the
unassuming Cebuana Lhuillier coach, contends Powerade is no pushover
despite losing their first two games by huge margins.

Another W by the Gems will not only allow them to pass idle co-leader
Cobra Energy Drink (2-0) but also boost their bid for a playoff berth
in the second round.

The top two teams Groups A and B after the qualification round earns
outright passage into the second round of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Black Water Perfume attempt for a second straight W in
their 2 o’clock showdown against Freego Jeans, the only winless team
in Group A.

Cebuana Lhuillier blasted FCA, 80-58, last week and many believes
Powerade will be another walk in the park.

“We can’t take them for granted,” cautioned Trillo, specifically
pointing to John Smith and Mark Jeffries, who, he said, made their
presence felt in Powerade’s 73-86 loss to Cobra two weeks ago. He said
the two Fil-Ams, both rookie free agents, will be strictly under their
radar during the 4 p.m encounter.

Trillo said he anticipates the Tigers to go for a quick line-up.

“They like to zone. They are a tough match-up once they run and their
3-point shots start falling,” he said.

The Elite are coming off a two-week break after 72-69 decision against
RnW Pacific Pipes (1-2) that boosted their confidence.

“We are looking forward to our first back-to-back victory. The players
are excited because they know they have a good chance of winning,”
said Black Water coach Leo Isaac.

A second straight win by the Black Water will earn it a tie for place
with NLEX, PC Gilmore and Pharex with 2-1 record.PR

PBA run for a cause on July 31

ALASKA team owner and former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) chairman will be at the forefront of the first ever running event for charity Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league is staging this weekend at the SM Mall of Asia.
       

A former national champion swimmer who’s now into triathlon, Uytengsu is seeing action in the 10-k event of the `PBA Powerade Run For A Cause’ set July 31 starting at 5 a.m.
       

Uytengsu once served as co-captain of the University of Southern California (USC) men’s swimming team in the early 80s and is the brain behind the annual Ironman event in the country which is holding its second staging next month.
       

Apart from the Alaska team executive, popular movie and television star Jericho Rosales and gorgeous PBA courtside reporter Cheska Litton have also committed to join the event being held for the benefit of children suffering from cancer.
       

Funds to be raised from the meet expected to attract some 1,500 runners, will go to the Cancer and Hematology Center of the Philippine Children’s Medical Hospital in Quezon City.
       

Registration fee of P500 is pegged in the charity event presented by Soleus, the official timer, and backed by Smart, Air21, Viva, Zest Air, Pharmaton, Accel, Mang Inasal, Biogenic Alcohol, Norkis, AeroMed and Ifnica, along with commissioner Sonny Barrios, deputy commissioner Chito Salud and members of the PBA Board led by chairman Rene Pardo of B-Meg Derby Ace.
       

There will also be 5-k and 3-k races, where the top male and female winners are going to receive P5,000 and P3,000, respectively, plus timepieces for the top three finishers.
       

Male and Female champions in the 10-k footrace take home the top prize of P7,000.
       

Barrios said all players from the 10 PBA teams are obliged to do their share in making the runfest a success. Fines are likely to be meted for players who failed to show up.
       

Players from the four teams seeing action in the Fiesta Cup semifinals are all exempted from participating.
       

The footrace has for its media partners the Philippine Star, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Business Mirror, Bandera, Libre and AF, exclusive radio partner is NU 107, with Solar Sports as the exclusive TV partner.
       

For further details, call the PBA office at 470-2768 local 221 or log on at www.pba.ph. (pr)

Batang Talk N’ Text-Quezon City defeats Powerade Batang Bacolod, Davao bets beat Baguio cagers

Defending champion Batang Talk N’ Text-Quezon City defeated Powerade Batang Bacolod, 97-75 Wednesday and secured its place in the cross-over semifinals of the Powerade Batang PBA Pilipinas Championship at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Jolo Mendoza, a 12-year old student from Ateneo de Manila, led all scorers with 46 points. He accounted for all of his team’s 30 points in the opening quarter as the Batang Texters surged to an 18-point advantage then coasted the rest of the way.

It was their second straight victory in Group B and seventh overall including a five-game sweep en route to a three-peat of the Batang PBA Summer League championship last week.

Batang TnT-QC goes for a sweep of its group when it faces Powerade Batang Davao in their schedule 1 p.m. match Thursday at the close of the classification round at the old San Juan Gym.

B-Meg Derby Ace-Caloocan and Powerade Batang Cebu also posted their second straight wins and clinched the two semifinal berths up for grabs in the Group B.

Aljun Melecio turned in 22 points and Patrick Cagara added 14 for the Batang Llamados who dumped Powerade Batang Batangas, 71-32, while Mark Berame tallied 29 markers to show the way for Powerade Batang Cebu which defeated Powerade Batang Zamboanga, 47-36.

The Batang Llamados and the Batang Cebu battle each other at 8:30 a.m Thursday to determine the top qualifier of their group.

Powerade Batang Davao held off Powerade Batang Baguio, 50-32, for its first win in Group A. Batang Baguio fell to 0-2.

Firs Game  

Powerade Batang Cebu 47 – Berame 29, Galinato 9, Aying 7, Aquillano 2, Waskin 0, Orias 0, Galan 0, Ponteras 0, Montecillo 0, Gumino 0, Dela Calzada 0, Berdin 0, Quijada 0, Rocero 0, Siasar 0.

Powerade Batang Zamboanga 36 – Oga 13, Alfaro 8, Amsali 7, SArte 4, Rondovo 2, Estabillo 2, Padrigao 0,Hassan 0, Ladjamalik 0, Elum 0, Escalante 0, Untoy 0.

Quarters: 0-0, 29-6; 30-16; 47-36.

Second Game

Batang TnT-Quezon City 97 -- Mendoza 46, Gallego 18, Andres 10, Yu 6, Sto. Domingo 4, Andres 3, Baquial 3, CArino 2, Bautista 2, Dumlao 2, Herrera 1, MAmuyac 1 Acot 2.

Powerade Batang BAcolod 75 -- Antiporda 15, Oria 14, Caram 11, Belangel 10, Tuhao 8, Dadivas 6, Fuentes 5, Tecson 4, Gabito 2, Remollo 0, Jomalesa 0, Baldevarona 0, Matsuda 0, Sevilla 0, Jungco 0.

Quarters: 30-12; 53-35

Third Game

Batang B-Meg Derby Ace-Caloocan 71 –Melecio 22, Cagara 14, Lopez 8, Nacpil 8, Lopez 5, Narvasa 4, Amoyo 3, Rivera 2, Tane do 2, Garcia 2, Reyes 0, Buenaflor 0, BAdillo 0, Abino 0.

Powerade Batang Batangs 32 – Gupit 11, Labayene 6, Chavez  RJ 5, Malaluan 3, Alcantara 2, Encarnacion 2, Garcia 2, Condez 1, Quito 0, Mendoza 0, BAusan 0, Silang 0, Chavez 0, Fabregas 0, De Castro 0.

Quarters: 32-10; 49-14, 61-21, 71-32.

Fourth Game

Powerade Batang Davao (Ateneo de Davao) 50 – Constantino 16, Blanco 11, Coquilla 5, Manuquez 4, Francisco 4, Angeles 4, Taculin 2, Arriate 2, Inliwan 2, Alino 0, Blanco 0, Castillo 2, Tamayo 0, Carillo 0.

POwerade Batang BAguio 32 – Mendoza 14, Buenaventura 5, Tychingco 4, Floresca 2, Zablan 2, Acosta 2, Bugayong 1, Imson 0, Agoycol 0, Cacho 0, Bernal 0, Libera 0, Bad-ey 0, Cacho 0.

Quarters: 26-5; 33-10; 39-28; 50-32

Six regional champions with officials

Six regional champion teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that will compete in the Powerade Batang PBA Pilipinas Championship join PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios (center back) who is standing side by side with PBA media bureau head and assistant to the commissioner Willie Marcial and PBA operations and technical director Rickie Santos for a group photo after a brief press conference, May 31, at the Araneta Gateway Suites. The 2010 Powerade Batang PBA Pilipinas Championship gets going Tuesday at the old San Juan gym with Batang Talk N' Text-Quezon City as defending champion. 

Poll starts for All-Star starters

DAVAO CITY'S PETER JUNE SIMON (PBA photo)



VOTING for this year’s PBA All-Star game is now ongoing as fan balloting will determine the starters for both the North and South teams.
Puerto Princesa, Palawan is this year’s host of the mid-season spectacle to be held April 23-25.
The league reverts back to the North versus South format after temporarily giving way to the Powerade-RP Team’s training and preparation for the FIBA-Asia Men’s Basketball Championship campaign last year when the Nationals played three exhibition games against the North and South squads, respectively.
The last time the two rivals played in Bacolod two years ago, the South won in overtime, 163-158, with Peter June Simon adjudged as the Most Valuable Player.
The two teams are 4-4 in their head-to-head encounter.
PBA fans can vote their favorite players through the polling places to be found at the different playing venues, while online voting through www.pba.ph starts on Monday, March 1.
With fan voting determining the starting line ups, the rest of the all-star selection will be filled up by the different coaches of the 10 ball clubs.

Jones Cup post mortem

ONES CUP POST MORTEM

JULY 27, 2009



TAIPEI – The Powerade-Team Pilipinas scouting mission in the 31st William Jones Cup tournament could return with a report that might look like this:

Iran: Tall…heavy…mismatches in every position. Seven-foot-three Hamed Ehadadi indefensible inside. Score vs. RP: 85-60. Conclusion: Unbeatable.

Jordan: Big…fast…Portuguese coach Mario Palma as acid-tongued as he is good. Point guard Rasheim Wright in a class of his own. Score vs. RP: 90-59. Conclusion: Too tough to beat.

South Korea: Deadly snipers lurk everywhere…dazzling ball movement…might be vulnerable inside and against aggressive perimeter defense. Score vs. RP: 83-80. Conclusion: Beatable.

Japan: Good outside shooters…Takehiko Orimo, who Dennis Espino took out in the 2002 Busan Asian Games, still the main man…big guy in the middle joining the team in Tianjin…Asi Taulava, Japeth Aguilar and Sonny Thoss need to work overtime to contain new center. Trailed by 19 points early in the first half but showed remarkable comeback power. Score vs. RP: 87-85. Conclusion: Beatable depending on their hidden ace.

Taiwan: High percentage distance shooting…quick ball movement honed by South Korean coach…volume scoring from the onset…relatively weak inside. Score vs. RP: 86-77. Conclusion: Going down against the Nationals next time around.

Lebanon: Superstar Fadi El-Khatib slowed down a bit by age but scored 32 and 33 points in their first two games…backup guys – Brian Feghali and Jackson Vroman – too good to defend against…add to the potent mix a smaller version of Dirk Nowitzki named Matt Freije who debuted with 39 points and 11 rebounds in a 97-79 annihilation of South Korea. Score vs. RP: 95-83. Conclusion: Huge problem.

The eight-day, nine-team tournament, held in honor of the founding secretary-general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and eventually ruled by Iran – dethroning back-to-back champion Jordan – stripped bare the RP team’s inadequacies: lack of foreign exposure, unfamiliarity with international rules, contrasting style of play.

Jordan finished with a tournament-best 7-1 record to Iran and Lebanon’s 6-2. But the Jordanians decision to walk out of their game with the Iranians over officiating proved costly.

Before the team left, national coach Yeng Guiao preached the need for speed, defense and accurate shooting to counter the opposition’s size advantage.

Faced, however, with opponents who are as fast, if not faster, massive, deadlier from the outside, and infinitely more experienced in the FIBA brand of basketball, the Nationals faltered, bogged down by sloppy ball handling and horrendous outside shooting.

Injuries also ravaged the squad at its most sensitive position – the point guard spot, with Jayjay Helterbrand playing hurt and Ryan Reyes not playing at all.

The imbalance forced the sacrifice of Willie Miller, who was brought in from the less burdensome position of shooting guard to help quarterback the RP team while delivering the points when needed, which was often.

There were a few bright spots, especially the emergence of 6-foot-10 Japeth Aguilar, who, despite being lanky, young and raw, demonstrated his awesome potentials – defensively and as an offensive threat above the rim.

There was also Sonny Thoss holding his own against Middle Eastern tanks, and Cyrus Baguio scorching the tracks and pushing up the pace in transition.

In the next six days before they fly for the “real thing” – the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship – where three berths are at stake for the 16th FIBA World Championship in Istanbul next year, the Nationals have their “work cut out for them,” as PBA commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios reminded the team Saturday after a healing mass offered for ailing former President Corazon C. Aquino.

“We shall sink or swim with this team, but you have to work real hard to get in shape,” Barrios told the players. “Only an optimum performance from you, guys, can spell success in Tianjin.”

The Philippines is bracketed with South Korea, Japan and Sri Lanka in the FIBA Asia.

Unless the Sri Lankans, a cricket-loving nation, have learned to shoot hoops as well as they play their national pastime, then the three perennial Asian rivals are guaranteed to make it to the next phase of the elimination – against the top three teams from Group B, made up of Iran, Kuwait, Uzbekistan, and Taiwan.

With the tournament format calling for win-loss records to be carried over to the Group A vs. Group B round, it makes it imperative for the RP team to get there with a 3-0 or 2-1 card in anticipation for return engagements with Iran and Taiwan, not to mention the games with the Uzbeks and Kuwaitis, both un-scouted opponents.

Having lost to all four teams – Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Iran – in the Jones Cup tournament, the Nationals will be working from a position of disadvantage, mentally and physically, unless they make the transition from being individual talents to becoming a solid team with patience, good ball movement, judiciously-taken outside shots, and hellish defense for 40 minutes.

And that’s just to reach the quarterfinal round.

In the semis, defending champion China, Lebanon and Jordan and probably Qatar await which four from the other bracket will go up against them.

These coming days will determine if the country’s dream of a World Championship appearance after more than three decades is capable of reaching that far.

53 APPLICANTS EYE PBA STINT

53 APPLICANTS EYE PBA STINT

A total of 53 hopefuls led by potential top pick Japeth Aguilar made themselves available for Sunday’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft at the Market! Market! Place in Taguig.

Other than Aguilar, the only amateur player to be included by national coach Yeng Guiao in the Powerade-Team Pilipinas bound for the FIBA-Asia Men’s Basketball Championship in Tianjin, China, the 2009 class also includes a pair of Most Valuable Player (MVP) awardees, a Finals MVP who played a key role in San Beda’s three straight NCAA men’s basketball championship, a gangling center instrumental in La Salle’s UAAP championship two years ago, a brother of Alaska big man Reynel Hugnatan and a slew of Fil-Am cagers including a nephew of Talk `N Text guard Jimmy Alapag.

The deadline of application ended last Friday, at least a week before the much-awaited event on August 2 that serves as the league’s first official activity for the 2009-2010 season.

Burger King owns this year’s no. 1 overall pick.

All 53 PBA aspirants had been split into four teams and will play in the two-day, eight-game schedule at the Caruncho gym in Pasig City that forms part of the traditional Rookie Camp slated on July 28, 30 and 31.

Teaming up with the 6-foot-9 Aguilar in Group A (yellow) are Pharex stalwarts Ronnie Mathias, Sean Co and Josh Urbiztondo, while PBL MVP Chris Ross, Roel Hugnatan and 2007 UAAP MVP Jervy Cruz spearhead Group B (white).

San Beda star Ogie Menor, La Salle stalwart Rico Maierhofer, Far Eastern University guard Benedict Fernandez and Oracle guard Chris Timberlake stood at the forefront of Group C (blue), while Group D (red) will be led by University of the East’s Marcy Arellano, Jose Rizal University’s James Sena and Kevin White, reportedly related to Alapag.

On the first day of play, Group 1 clashes with Group 3 in first game at 2 p.m., while Group 2 battles Group 4 at 4 p.m.

The final day of the camp is a crossover double header between Group 1 vs. Group 2 (2 p.m.) and Group 3 vs. Group 4 (4 p.m.).

The Rookie Camp starts on July 28 at the Club 650 gym in Libis, Quezon City from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be supervised by supervisor of officials Ramil Cruz where the prospective rookie hopefuls are subjected in terms of physical aspect, skills and strength evaluation as well as basketball drills.

Failure to attend the camp would automatically scratch the applicant from the final list of rookie picks to be announced by league commissioner Sonny Barrios on July 31.

There will be no camp on the 29th to give way to the coaching clinic to be conducted by Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig starting at 2 p.m.

The complete rookie line ups are as follows:

Group 1 (yellow) – Aguilar, Urbiztondo, Co, Matias, Bryan Faundo, Marlon Adolfo, Charleston Bocias, Kim Macanig, Axel John Doruelo, Jim Viray, Luis Palaganas, Leemore Boliver and Glenn Bolocon.

Group 2 (white) – Cruz, Ross, Hugnatan, Filemon Fernandez III, Orlando Daroya, Richard Saladaga, Dino Daa, Robert Labagala, Jonathan Pinera, Jorel Canizares, Gerry Orera, Ramsey Williams and Jerome Cenita.

Group 3 (blue) – Menor, Maierhofer, Timberlake, Fernandez, John Walsham, Francis Allera, Jemal Vizcarra, Roser Mangahas, Jerby Del Rosario, Charles Water, Floyd Dedicatoria, Edwin Asoro and Jan Philip Villaver.

Group 4 (red) – Sena, Arellano, White, Michael Burtscher, Chris Viardo, Howard Saddi, Hafer Mondragon, Raymond Agular, Allan Evangelista, Andro Quinday, Emmanuel Malasig, Jobe Nkemakola, Mark Benitez and Jonathan Uyloan.

RP vs. Lebanon

Jones cup/rp vs. Lebanon story


JORDAN 4 0
LEBANON 4 1
KOREA 3 1
TAIWAN 3 1
IRAN 3 1
JAPAN 1 3
RP 1 4
TAIWAN-B 1 5
KAZAKHSTAN 0 5


Games Thursday
1 p.m. – Kazakhstan (0-5) vs. Japan (1-3)
3 p.m. – Iran (3-1) vs. Jordan (4-0)
5 p.m. – RP (1-4) vs. Korea (3-1)
7 p.m. – Taiwan (3-1) vs. Lebanon (4-1)


TAIPEI – Flexing Middle Eastern muscles on the rare occasions it needed to, Lebanon overpowered Powerade-Team Pilipinas Wednesday, 95-83, to move up solo second in the 31st William Jones Cup tournament at the Hsinchuang gym here.



Brian Feghali, who played three years for Louisiana State in the US NCAA, led Lebanon with 29 points, including five 3-pointers, and 10 rebounds, while Jackson Vroman, the replacement for naturalized player Joseph Vogel, added 24 points with seven rebounds, four assists, and five steals.

The Philippines outrebounded the Lebanese, 36-28, but turned the ball over on 27 occasions, 12 more than the opposition.

“We just beat ourselves, and too many fouls were called on us,” said national coach Yeng Guiao, noting the RP team was awarded 15 free throws and the Lebanese 32.

Halfway through the annual invitational held in honor of the founding secretary-general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Jordan remains the only unbeaten team in the 9-team field.

Three other teams – Iran, South Korea and host Taiwan – are tied at third to fifth with 3-1 slates.

After dropping their first two games and beating Kazakhstan, the Nationals lost their next two, falling to 1-4 just above Taiwan-B (1-5) and the winless Kazakhs (0-5).

The RP team trailed 50-35 late in the second quarter on the strength of Brian Feghali’s outside shooting before James Yap closed out the first half with seven straight points.

Behind Kerby Raymundo, the Nationals came back to narrow the gap at 59-57 midway in the third quarter before the veteran Fadi El-Khatib drained a 3-point shot to spark a 15-5 Lebanon run to end the RP uprising.

Four more games remain in the country’s schedule, with South Korea, a groupmate in the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China next month, up next this Thursday.

In an earlier game, Jordan (4-0) kept an unblemished slate intact by crushing previously unbeaten South Korea, 83-67, as Rasheim Wright scored 21 points and the defense forced the usually accurate Korean snipers (3-1) to miss 20 three-point shots.

Before that, Iran (3-1), powered by 7-foot-3 Hamed Ehadadi, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds, routed Japan (1-3), 82-70, and later, Taiwan-B upset Kazakhstan, 82-69, picking up its first win while handing the Kazakhs their fifth straight setback.


Scores:

LEBANON 95 – Feghali 29, Vroman 24, El-Khatib 14, Fahed 11, Nour 9, Mahmoud 4, Turk 3, Kanaan 1.

RP 83 – Helterbrand 12, Raymundo 11, Yap 11, Pennisi 9, Santos 7, Norwood 7, Aguilar 6, Baguio 4, Thoss 3, Taulava 3.

Quarters: 30-19; 50-42; 78-66; 95-73

Cramming in Taiwan

Cramming in Taiwan


TAIPEI – For Powerade Team Pilipinas, the 31st Williams Jones Cup tournament represents a crash course on team bonding and preparation, a burning the midnight oil hour.

While teams like Lebanon and Iran are using the 9-team competition – held here annually in honor of the founding secretary-general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) – to break in newly-acquired big men or wrap up year-long training, the Philippines is cramming inside 10 days 10 months worth of lessons.

“Without prolonged preparation, we’re trying to compress all the situations na puwede nating daanan sa Tianjin in this one tournament,” said national coach Yeng Guiao moments after the RP team blew a 19-point second quarter lead in losing to Japan Tuesday.

“We learn more from seeing the situation here,” Guiao added.

Other than a low level Southeast Asian Basketball Men’s Championship in Medan, Indonesia two months ago, the Nationals, tasked with securing a berth to the 2010 World Championship in Istanbul by finishing in the top three in next month’s 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in China, have had absolutely no international experience.

They did play an overmatched team from Australia, two PBA selections and a group of American missionaries, but nothing beats getting slap around by Jordan, sneered at by host Chinese-Taipei, and having their hopes dashed by Japan.

Beating Kazakhstan, a team the country hasn’t had success with since Tim Cone’s RP-Centennial team back in 1998, lifted their spirits and Guiao believes the contrasting experience is nothing but enriching.

“In order to play a team better, one has to lose to them first in order to realize what needs to be done,” the fiery mentor rationalized.

“Situations like these give one the opportunity to see the character of the players. Kung sino ang puwede at di puwede.”

Guiao has said before that the Jones Cup is the “real test” and the FIBA Asia the “real thing” – and no test is preparing Team RP than wading in the waters of Taiwan with the best of Asia outside powerhouse China.

Lebanon, South Korea, Taiwan-B and Iran remain in the Nationals’ schedule and more tutorials abound in these games.

How to handle the veteran Fadi El-Khatib and naturalized player Jackson Vroman will be provided by the Lebanese national squad.

With the legendary Shin Dong Pa a fixture at sideline, the South Korean snipers will be looking to pick off the Nationals from every spot in the Hsinchuang gym.

And then there are the Iranians, formerly coached by Serbian Rajko Toroman, now with the Philippines’ developmental team.

Not only did they top the 24th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Tokushima in 2007 and go on to the Beijing Olympics the following year, they brought with them 7-foot-2 behemoth Hamed Ehadadi, who arrived Tuesday, to terrorize their remaining opponents in the Jones Cup and send a chilly message to their rivals in Tianjin.

The Philippines is bracketed with Japan, South Korea and Sri Lanka in Group A in the FIBA Asia, with the top three teams moving up to the next round against the top three squads from Group B, comprised of Kuwait, Uzbekistan, Iran and Taiwan.

Getting past the first round should be a breeze, unless Sri Lanka, a cricket-playing nation, knows hoops as much as bats and wedges.

It is in the next round when the Uzbeks, Iranians and Taiwanese (unless the Kuwaitis have a say about it) come along that the lessons of Jones Cup 101 need to be applied.

As of now, the Nationals have four more classes to go.

Up next: Lebanese history. Professor El-Khatib awaits.

Japan downs RP, 87-85

KERBY Raymundo of Powerade Team Pilipinas drives along the baseline against a Japanese defender. (Photo by Tony Lu)

CYRUS Baguio of Powerade Team Pilipinas looks to pass against a Japanese defender. (Photo by Tony Lu)



Team Standings
KOREA 3 0
TAIWAN-A 3 0
JORDAN 2 0
LEBANON 2 1
IRAN 1 1
RP 1 3
JAPAN 1 2
KAZAKHSTAN 0 3
TAIWAN-B 0 3

Games Wednesday
1 p.m. – Japan (1-2) vs. Iran (1-1)
3 p.m. – Korea (3-0) vs. Jordan (2-0)
5 p.m. – Taiwan-B (0-3) vs. Kazakhstan (0-3)
7 p.m. – Lebanon (2-1) vs. RP (1-3)



TAIPEI – Powerade-Team Pilipinas squandered the gains of an earlier revival, blowing a 19-point second quarter lead Tuesday against long-time Asian rival Japan to end up losing, 87-85, in the 31st William Jones Cup at the Hsinchuang gym.

The tactical nature of the meeting between the old protagonists bracketed in Group A – along with South Korea and Sri Lanka – of the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China next month gave the outcome a different look.

With both teams determined to keep a few aces hidden before the actual battle for berths to the 16th World Championship in Istanbul next year begins, national coach Yeng Guiao and his Japanese counterpart claimed a measure of triumph after the game.

“Ang emphasis talaga is to learn as much as we can against them,” Guiao said. “We know naman in our hearts na kaya natin silang talunin pag dating sa Tianjin.”

But after watching Japan scuttle the double-digit RP team deficit with its outside shooting, and seeing Jajyjay Helterbrand’s dying-second attempt swatted away, even Guiao had to admit victory, as much as the lessons learned from the loss, would have been preferred.

“Mas maganda kung panalo siempre,” he said.

Osama Kuraishi, the Japanese coach, said through an interpreter that he had urged his players to “go hard for the victory.”

Kuraishi added: “This is a big win for us.”

The Nationals trailed, 86-82, when Jared Dillinger drained a way-out 3-point shot to cut Japan’s lead to one with four seconds left.

Helterbrand gave up a foul on Shinsuke Kashiwagi who was 7 for 7 from the line up that point. The 5-10 playmaker split his charities and Guiao called time, designing a play with Helterbrand inbounding from mid-court.

The Japanese broke up the first throw-in and the RP team again called time. Helterbrand returned for the throw-in, bounced the ball off Kashiwagi’s back, picked it up, and took aim from just outside the 3-point arc, only to have the ball swatted away by Kashiwagi before it could be launched.

“We were going for a win, a three-point shot,” said Guiao. “Na-fumble lang.”

Kashiwagi had 12 points behind center Kosuk Takeuchi who had 24 points, and the Japanese used their outside shooting and aggressive defense to come back from a 36-14 deficit early in the second and wrest control.

Japeth Aguilar, in his finest performance so far, scored 17 points for Team RP while Willie Miller added 14.

The Nationals, who ended a two-game losing start by beating Kazakhstan Monday, were hurt by their turnovers (24 against Japan’s 15) and their inability to get as often to the free throw line (8 of 9) where Japan shot 24 of 33.

With a 1-3 record, Powerade-RP, who lost James Yap late in the game after the Purefoods hotshot was hit on the nape during a scramble, goes up against Lebanon and Fadih El-Khatib at 7 p.m. Wednesday even as unbeaten teams South Korea and Jordan clash at 3 p.m.

In an earlier game, Lebanon nipped Kazakstan, 77-73, in a game where both teams walked out in the first half in disgust over officiating before they were persuaded to return and finish the game.

***
NOTES: Portuguese Mario Palma, the Jordan coach, points to China, Iran and Lebanon as the teams to beat in the FIBA-Asia World Championship qualifier in Tianjin…Lebanon mentor Dragan Raca confirms Lebanon is proceeding straight to the Philippines after ng the Jones Cup for two tuneup games against a non-PBA team.

Scores:

JAPAN 87 – Takeuchi 24, Kashiwagi 12, Takeda 9, Ishizaki 9, Amino 7, Orimo 7, Sakurai 7, Igarashi 5, Ito 4, Okada 3.

RP 85 – Aguilar 17, Miller 14, Santos 10, Thoss 8, Dillinger 8, Raymundo 5, Yap 5, De Ocampo 5, Norwood 5, Baguio 4, Helterbrand 2, Taulava 2.

Quarters: 12-27; 36-40; 61-61; 87-85

RP wins

RP VS. KAZAKHSTAN GAME STORY


Team Standings
KOREA 2 0
JORDAN 2 0
TAIWAN-A 2 0
IRAN 1 0
LEBANON 2 1
RP 1 2
JAPAN 0 2
KAZAKHSTAN 0 3
TAIWAN-B 0 2

Games Tuesday
1 p.m. – Kazakhstan vs. Lebanon
3 p.m. – Japan vs. RP
5 p.m. – Taiwan-B vs. Iran
7 p.m. – Jordan vs. Taiwan-A


TAIPEI – Stripped bare by Jordan and pushed to the brink by Taiwan in its first two outings, Powerade-Team Pilipinas rebounded with vengeful resolve Monday, blasting Kazakhstan, 85-67, in the 31st William Jones Cup tournament at the Hsinchuang gym.

The victory restored a measure of respect for the Nationals who suffered one of their worst beatings at the hands of the defending champion Jordanians – a 31-point loss Saturday – and a heartbreaker to host Taiwan Sunday.

Willie Miller, stepping up at the point guard spot while Jayjay Helterbrand feels his way back from a hamstring pull, led the RP team with 13 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Ranidel de Ocampo, 5 of 6 from the floor, added 11 points, along with 6-foot-10 Japeth Aguilar, who punctuated the breakout win with a number of rim-bending dunks.

“We’re just happy to win,” said national coach Yeng Guiao. “The important thing is we’re improving everyday, and we hope to get better in the next few games.”

The Philippines takes on long-time Asian rival Japan at 3 p.m. Tuesday in a battle of teams bracketed in Group A of the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China next month.

“Am I happy? Not totally because we lost our first two games in a bad way,” Guiao said. “But the prospects are good. Ang importante, me laban tayo sa Japan at Korea. We’ll focus on that first.”

After Lebanon on Wednesday, the Nationals face South Korea, which barely scraped past Kazakhstan, 75-73, in the opener.

Helterbrand returned after sitting out the first two games, putting aside tenseness in his left thigh in contributing seven points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal in 17 minutes.

“It feels good to be back trying to help my RP teammates,” said Helterbrand, his thigh wrapped in an icepack.

Oleg Kiselev, one of the Kazakhstan coaches, complimented the RP team’s aggressive running game and second half zone defense.

“They showed fantastic basketball. We couldn’t handle their fast break game,” Kiselev said through an interpreter. “We also struggled against their zone and we couldn’t fight till the end of the game.”

The Kazakhs are bringing with them to the Tianjin tournament three additional players – two big men and a point guard – and could face the Philippines again if both of them reach the quarterfinal round.

No Philippine team has beaten Kazakhstan dating back to the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games where it lost to Tim Cone’s RP-Centennial squad.

The Kazakhs beat out the Nationals for third place in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, a game the RP team went through will little emotion after losing to South Korea in the semifinal on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot by Lee Sang-Min.

A far cry from the nature of their first two starts, the Nationals came out blazing, opening a 22-12 lead in the first quarter on the way to several 20-point spreads, the last on a De Ocampo fast break layup, 78-58, with four minutes left.

In an earlier game, defending champion Jordan double-teamed the prolific Fadih El-Khatib throughout in a 73-63 victory over Lebanon for its second straight win.

After scoring an average 32.5 points in their first two wins, the veteran Lebanese forward was held down to 14 points on 5 of 14 shooting.


Scores:
POWERADE-RP 85 – Miller 13, Aguilar 11, De Ocampo 11, Yap 9, Thoss 8, Norwood 7, Helterbrand 7, Baguio 6, Raymundo 6, Santos 5, Dillinger 2, Taulava 0.

KAZAKHSTAN 67 – Dmitriy 23, Alexandr 16, Rustam 12, Vselovod 12, Ivan 2, Roman 2, Ilya 0, Voyeikov 0.

Quarters: 22-12, 45-36, 67-53, 85-67

Taiwan beats RP, 86-77

THE Filipino community in Taipei cheers on Powerade-Team Pilipinas in its game against Taiwan in the 31st Jones Cup tournament (Photo by Tony LU)



JONES CUP
RP VS. TAIWAN

TEAM STANDINGS

Korea 2 0
Lebanon 2 0
Taiwan-A 2 0
Jordan 1 0
Iran 1 0
RP

0 2
Taiwan-B 0 2
Japan 0 2
Kazakhstan 0 2

Games Today
1 p.m. – Lebanon (2-0) vs. Jordan (1-0)
3 p.m. – RP (0-2) vs. Kazakhstan (0-2)
5 p.m. – Iran (1-0) vs. Korea (2-0)
7 p.m. – Taiwan A (2-0) vs. Taiwan B (0-2)


TAIPEI – Powerade-Team Pilipinas suffered a second straight loss in the 31st William Jones Cup tournament Sunday, an 86-77 heartbreaker to host Taiwan at the Hsinchuang gymnasium.

After a humiliating 31-point setback to defending champion Jordan Saturday, the Nationals rediscovered the passion and tenacity that were absent in the opener.

Coming back from 16 points down in the second half, Team RP leveled thrice in the final six minutes – 68-all on a vicious slam by Japeth Aguilar, 70-all on Wynne Arboleda’s driving layup, and 72-all on free throws by Kerby Raymundo with 3:01 to go.

Two successive traveling violations called on the Nationals after Arboleda’s basket denied them go-ahead opportunities, however, and the host regained their touch following the last deadlock.

Taiwan, which scored the game’s first 12 points and was up 30-14 after 10 minutes, strung nine straight points from there, highlighted by a corner 3-point shot from Yang Chin-Min to seal their second win and the Philippines’ consecutive defeat in the 9-team competition held in honor of the founding secretary-general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

A 12-0 run keyed by 3-pointers from James Yap and Cyrus Baguio brought the Nationals within 62-60 with 2:04 left in the third quarter but they couldn’t muster the needed to energy to get past the gritty Taiwanese.

Two missed foul shots by Baguio down the stretch slammed the door on Team RP.

Seemingly unable to defend for the whole of 24 seconds in the first half, the RP team trailed early as the host riddled the Nationals’ shabby resistance with 11 triples.

But Powerade-RP came firing for the third quarter, and a renewed defensive effort helped chip away at the double-digit deficit.

Again, however, it was the RP team's abysmal shooting that did it in as the Nationals missed 18 three-point shots overall.

In earlier games, South Korea and Lebanon picked up their second straight victories, while Iran, the defending FIBA Asia champion, debuted with flourish.

The Koreans shook off tenacious Taiwan-B, 101-93, while Lebanon, with Fadih El-Khatib pouring 33 points, dumped Japan, 90-81.

Iran, getting 28 points from 6-foot-4 Nikkah Bahrami, trounced Kazakhstan, 79-56.

The Philippines takes on Kazakhstan at 4 p.m. Monday in a battle of winless teams.


SCORES:

TAIWAN 86 – Tien 21, Yang C.M. 14, Yang C.Y. 14, Chang 8, Lee 8, Chen 8, Chen S.N. 7, Lin 2, Hsu 2, Wu 2.

POWERADE RP 77 – Miller 15, Raymundo 12, Yap 12, Santos 10, Aguilar 10, Baguio 7, Arboleda 4, De Ocampo 2, Norwood 2, Dillinger 2, Taulava 1, Thoss 0.

Quarters: 30-14; 53-38; 65-62; 86-77

Jordan routs RP

Jordan routs RP


Games Today
1 p.m. – Kazakhstan vs. Iran
3 p.m. – Japan vs. Lebanon
5 p.m. – Taiwan-B vs. Korea
7 p.m. – RP vs. Taiwan-A


TAIPEI – The awakening to the truth about international competition couldn’t have been more rude, and the welcome to the 31st staging of the William Jones Cup any more cold for Powerade-Team Pilipinas.

Hoping to showcase to the rest of Asia what they are all about as they set a goal lofty enough to deserve an appearance in the 16th World Championship in Istanbul next year, the Nationals ran smack instead to the harsh realities of global basketball.

Reduced to a bush leaguer in the second quarter where big and bold Jordan racked up 20 straight points to break a tight game open, the RP team fell with a big thud Saturday, 90-59, at the Hsinchuang gymnasium, putting pressure on everybody involved in sending a national team to the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China next month.

The game was shown live on ESPN, and the Nationals, who started James Yap, Asi Taulava, Gabe Norwood, Kerby Raymundo and Willie Miller, stayed in the game in the first 10 minutes, trailing 17-15, with the promise of a second quarter blast up in the air.

But then came off the bench Rasheim Wright, the 6-4 point guard who terrorized Chot Reyes’ RP team during the 24th FIBA Asia Olympic qualifier in Tokushima, Japan two years ago.

In a flash, the potential for a big first half went up in smoke as the Jordanians, orchestrated by Wright, cut the Nationals’ defense in shreds, setting bone-jarring screens against the man-to-man and hitting the open man from the outside.

With alarming regularity, the Nationals were caught two or three steps away from a Jordanian in firing position or pinned hapless under the basket by huge post-up presence.

It was 37-15 with three minutes remaining in the half before Jared Dillinger went to the free throw to end the long drought, and it was more of the same the rest of the way.

Fast on their feet in covering the middle defensively, the Jordanians, coached by Brazilian sparkplug Mario Palma, who made RP coach Yeng Guiao look like an altar boy, had the Nationals starving from the perimeter and under the offensive glass.

They also had easy access in front of their goal, drawing the double-team and then locating their spot-up shooters.

There were a few bright notes for Team RP, like Kerby Raymundo scoring the Nationals’ first six points and newcomer Japeth Aguilar swatting away shots.

But it was a Jordanian show all the way, with the debacle at its height halfway in the fourth quarter at 79-45.

Ginebra’s Jayjay Helterbrand and Cyrus Baguio, and San Miguel Beer’s Mick Pennisi, with little rest following their Game 7 battle in the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup Finals, arrived Saturday afternoon with Powerade-RP team manager JB Baylon and PBA media bureau chief Willy Marcial but didn’t suit up.

They are expected to be inserted in the 12-man lineup, which is allowed by tournament rules, for Sunday’s 7 p.m. match against host Taiwan.

In other opening day games, Lebanon, with the veteran Fadih El-Khatib pouring 32 points, crushed Taiwan-B, 93-61, while South Korea, which is bracketed with the Philippines, Japan and Sri Lanka in Group A in the FIBA Asia tournament, edged Kazakhstan, 75-73, despite getting outrebounded, 42-32.

RP vs. Jordan

JULY 17, 2009



Games Today

1 p.m. – Lebanon vs. Taiwan-B

3 p.m. – Korea vs. Kazakhstan

5 p.m. – Jordan vs. PHILIPPINES

7 p.m. – Opening Ceremony

7:30 p.m. – Taiwan-A vs. Japan





Powerade-RP battles Jordan



Helterbrand: It doesn’t matter if it hurts, I’ll still play


TAIPEI – Powerade-Team Pilipinas opens its campaign in the 31st William Jones Cup tournament Saturday against Jordan, the squad that smashed two years ago the country’s dreams of returning to the Olympic stage.


Game time is set at 5 p.m. at the Hsinchuang gymnasium following the opening matches pitting Lebanon against Taiwan-B at 1 p.m. and South Korea against Kazakhstan at 3.


A 30-minute inaugural ceremony is set at 7 p.m.


Led by point guard Rasheim Wright, who had 24 points, the Jordanian ended the Philippines’ bid to qualify to the 2008 Beijing Olympics following an 84-76 victory in the preliminary round of the 24th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Tokushima, Japan.


Though the Jones Cup, held in honor of the founding secretary-general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), is nothing more than a top-caliber tune-up tournament for the “real thing” – the FIBA Asia World Championship qualifier in Tianjin, China next month – the games will afford competing teams a chance to size up each other.


Facing Jordan in the opener is especially significant for the Nationals.


“We lost to them convincingly in Tokushima,” said Powerade-RP coach Yeng Guiao on arrival here Thursday. “Meeting Jordan at once will allow us to immediately find out if our preparations (for Tianjin) are on the right track.”


PBA commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios, head of the RP delegation, labeled the Jordan game “the real test against a strong opponent.”


Added Barrios: “This will give coach Yeng and our guys an opportunity to gauge how they are doing in their preparations for Tianjin.”


Backing Wright then are 6-foot-8 Islam Abbaas, who grabbed nine rebounds against the Philippines, and 6-foot-6 Enver Soobzokov and 6-foot-5 Sam Daghlas, both of whom had five assists.


Jordan had two 7-footers – Jamal Ma’aytah and Ayman Udais – and a 6-foot-10 center, Zaid Al-Khas.


Asi Taulava paced Team RP, which led 18-13 in the first quarter, with 14 points, while point guard Jayjay Helterbrand had five assists.


Helterbrand, who has been laboring under the strain of a pulled hamstring, gave indications he would suit up.


“If I’m there, I don’t wanna just watch,” said Helterbrand, who sat from the bench as his RP teammates swept the 8th SEABA Men’s Championship in Medan, Indonesia last April.


“I wanna really try help those guys out. If I’m capable, I wanna play. If it hurts or not, it doesn’t matter, I’ll still play.”


The RP team arrived Thursday afternoon from Manila minus Mick Pennisi of San Miguel Beer and Ginebra's Cyrus Baguio and Helterbrand, who will follow the day after Game 7 of the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup Finals Friday.

Powerade-RP off to W. Jones Cup

Powerade-RP off to W. Jones Cup

MANILA – Buoyed by news that Jayjay Helterbrand’s hamstring pull may not be as serious as initially thought, Powerade-Team Pilipinas leaves for the William Jones Cup tournament in Taipei Thursday, putting its worthiness for a forthcoming battle to the ultimate test.

The Philippines opens its campaign in the 9-team, single round-robin

competition – held in honor of the founding secretary-general of the

International Basketball Federation (FIBA) – against Jordan at 7 p.m.

Saturday at the Hsinchuang Gymnasium.

“I wish the Powerade Team Pilipinas a safe and successful trip and

engagement,” said PBA commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios.

“Safe, in terms of staying healthy and away from injury. And

successful, in terms of fine-tuning preparations while seeing in

action and playing against some of the teams competing in Tianjin. I

ask our countrymen to pray for our team.”

The Nationals need all the prayers coming their way.

Powerade-RP coach Yeng Guiao has called the Jones Cup, which boasts off the men’s team of Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, South Korea, Japan and Kazakhstan, the “real test” vis-à-vis the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship this August in Tianjin, China, which he labeled “the real thing.”

The top three teams in the FIBA Asia tourney will qualify to the 16th

World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey next year. Bracketed in Group A, along with Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Korea and

Japan hope to get past the two-round preliminaries and the critical

quarterfinals, and gain a shot at making it to the global stage with

the rest of the world.

But for now, focus will be on how the first-rate tuneup games in

Taipei will fan out, especially with the arrival of 6-foot-9 Japeth

Aguilar and Helterbrand’s apparent rebound from a painful injury.

Completing the RP team are skipper Asi Taulava, Sonny Thoss, Kerby Raymundo, James Yap, Gabe Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jared Dillinger, Mick Pennisi, Willie Miller, Arwind Santos, and Cyrus Baguio.

Pennisi, Baguio and Helterbrand are staying behind until Saturday, by

which time the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup Finals would have wrapped up.

Ryan Reyes, Helterbrand’s main sub at the point guard spot, will join

the trip but will most likely sit out the action to give his hamstring

injury more time to heal.

“I’m sad that I might not be able to play because all I want to do is

compete, especially against the best from other countries,” said

Reyes, who suffered his injury in the country’s opening game against

Malaysia in the SEABA Men’s Championship in Medan, Indonesia last April.

“It would have been a good test to see how I fare against them, and

the adjustments I have to make. But all I can do now is get healthy

and hope that I’ll be O.K. by FIBA Asia. I’ll be supporting my

teammates all the way though.”

Taking Reyes’ place in the roster is veteran playmaker Wynne Arboleda, starting point guard for Guiao at Burger King.