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Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Despite uncertainty, Team Pilipinas keeps preparations on target for Asian Games
Despite the uncertainty brought about by the FIBA suspension of the Philippines, SMC—Team Pilipinas is keeping its busy schedule.
National coach Chot Reyes and his charges left for Doha, Qatar Monday morning to compete in the Al-Emadi International Basketball Tournament, along with the national teams of Angola, Latvia and host Qatar.
Bosom buddies Kerby Raymundo of newly crowned PBA Philippine Cup champion Purefoods Chunkee Giants and Willie Miller of the Alaska Aces lead a young and tall team assembled by Reyes from the pool of players who will slug it out with their taller rivals in the tough week-long tourney.
Eliminations
Team Pilipinas, backed by San Miguel Corp., takes on African champion Angola first on Tuesday at the Gharafa Club gym.
Qatar tests the mettle of the Nationals on Wednesday and Latvia gets its turn at the end of the eliminations on Thursday.
The top team in the eliminations will meet the fourth placer while the second takes on the third in the semifinals on Saturday.
The two winners then play in the championship match on Sunday.
“This is a great opportunity for us because we get to play Qatar again, and we all know Qatar is one of the best teams in Asia today,” said coach Reyes. “Then, we get a feel of both African and European basketball in Angola and Latvia. All three are very, very tough opponents, but we can only get better playing teams like these as often as we can.”
Qatar placed third in the last FIBA-Asia championships and is organizing the tournament as a tune-up for its national team before it participates in the World Basketball Championships to be held in Japan in three weeks.
Rookies
Joining Raymundo in SMC-Pilipinas’ frontline are Dorian Pena, Mick Pennisi, Billy Mamaril, Rafi Reavis, Larry Fonacier, slam dunk king Nino Canaleta, and potential No. 1 overall draft pick Arwind Santos. Manning the backcourt with Miller are Dennis Miranda are PBA rookie hopefuls Joseph Yeo and LA Tenorio.
The team’s average height is 6-foot-three, two to three inches shorter than their rivals. The Nationals hope to make up for this disadvantage with their speed and fluid motion offense.
After the Qatar trip, SMC-Pilipinas will engage FIBA-Asia runner-up Lebanon in a two-game series on Aug. 13 and 16. Two days later, the Nationals fly to Brunei to defend the Sultan’s Cup title against some of the best club teams in Asia. (PR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 1, 2006 issue)
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