AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR THE RP BASKETBALL TEAM
10 03 2007
With the lifting by FIBA of the country’s suspension in FIBA-sanctioned international tournaments, all eyes are now turned towards the formation of the all-pro basketball team. After much soul searching and introspection, Coach Chot Reyes finally named the twelve players who will attempt at regaining asian basketball glory it once dominated 40 years ago. Not only will this team carry the country’s colors for the Asian championships, it will also try to earn a slot in the 2008 Beijing Olympics! Impossible? Hmm… As the saying goes, there’s no harm in trying.
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Completing the 12-man roster are the following:
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1. Jimmy Alapag (Talk N Text)
2. Renren Ritualo (Talk N Text)
3. Mark Caguioa (Brgy. Ginebra)
4. Jayjay Helterbrand (Brgy. Ginebra)
5. Dondon Hontiveros (San Miguel)
6. Danny Seigle (San Miguel)
7. Rudy Hatfield (Brgy. Ginebra)
8. Tony de la Cruz (Alaska)
9. Ranidel de Ocampo (Air 21)
10. Kerby Raymundo (Purefoods)
11. Asi Taulava (Talk N Text)
12. Mick Pennisi (Red Bull)
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Although the only big player (by international standards) who can defend against intimidating players of other Asian teams is Asi Taulava, what is notable with the rest of the players chosen is their ability to shoot from beyond the arc. Maybe Coach Chot Reyes wants to put premium on outside shooting which is the current flavor in international basketball.
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Will this team meet up to expectations? We’ll see in the coming days. (photo courtesy of rp-online.de)
welcome back pala
I do hope we make a good impression. The sad part is that even Philippine sports suffer from politics. This is the reason why I walked away from the Phil. Bowling Congress Youth Development Committee. It saddens me to see our national players so demoralized.
I hope they’ll do better this time around.
Why is James Yap not in the lineup?
I seldom watch the PBA nowadays.
thanks melai. by the way, why am i no longer in your blogroll? hehe.. just asking.
Schumey, i agree. with the emegence of the BAP-SBP, we might have the chance to see the light of day at least in the sport most Filipinos love.
haha. intriguing question, lazarus. i presume you are well-aware of the hope-james-kris affair. but i don’t think that’s the reason for his non-inclusion. maybe he does not fit into coach chot reyes’ system.
Yap isn’t there because he is a one-dimensional player. That was the “reason” that Chot gave. His system will put a premium on players who can play both sides of the court.
Considering the amount of preparation that Lebanon, Qatar and Korea has on us, I’m not that enthusiastic about our chances. We will kick major butt in the SEABA, but we’ll definitely fall short in the qualifiers. I hope I’m wrong.
i tend to agree with you, lateralus. other countries have vastly improved. we must double our efforts to at least have a fighting chance.
sensya na kung nawala, nawala din kasi ng halos isang bwan ang blog ko nung december -january e
narecover lang po, unti unti ko na lang nababalik ang mga links 
added na po ulit :)v