PH basketball team in Asiad lauded

STAKEHOLDERS lauded the decision of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to at last send a men's basketall team to the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia, a result of the strong clamor from sports officials and Filipino fans of the sport.

Never mind if the new national team, also seen as a reunion of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, only started training yesterday for the Games that is slated to open on August 18.

Dabawenyo Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, in a Facebook interview with SunStar Davao on Monday, August 6, 2018, said Coach Yeng Guiao's national team, composed of core Rain or Shine Elasto Painters with some reinforcements from his former wards and newbies, is almost the same in competitiveness.

"The second team of Coach Yeng will be a fighting team with no pressure," Ramirez said, adding that in the country's basketball history, its national teams had been known to always put up a good fight in every international stint.

He, however, expects that "they will play their best, because its about our country and people."

PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, in a phone interview, said, "We are glad that SBP decided to send a team regardless of its outcome. I just hope they improve from our seventh finish the last time."

The SBP earlier withdrew the Philippines' entry to the quadriennial games citing the lack of players since most of the Gilas Pilipinas players were suspended following the basketball brawl that ensued during a Fiba World Cup qualifying game against the Australia Boomers last July 2 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

Donning the country's colors are Elasto Painters' Maverick Ahanmisi, Chris Tiu, Gabe Norwood, James Yap, Beau Belga and Raymond Almazan.

Beefing up the squad are Magnolia's Paul Lee, San Miguel's Christian Standhardinger, GlobalPort's Stanley Pringle, TNT's Don Trollano and NLEX's Asi Taulava along with cadets Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero.

From 14, the team will be trimmed to a dozen.