Without its star, ROS worries
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is not taking any chances with the country’s last shot at making it to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
The names of the 17-man pool for Gilas Pilipinas before it takes part in the Olympic Qualifying tournament – here or abroad – in July will be sent to FIBA’s Geneva headquarters, said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios, for eligibility confirmation.
Barrios, back from the FIBA 3x3 World Tour in Abu Dhabi with Calvin Abueva and the Manila North team, said SBP prefers to set aside eligibility issues, if any, way ahead of the tournament time, especially now that the country is bidding for the hosting rights of one of three OQTs offered by FIBA to accommodate three more entries to Rio.
“Although nakapag-laro na naman for the national team, halimbawa, sina [Greg] Slaughter at [Marcio] Lassiter noon, ayaw natin magkaroon ng questions pa sa eligibility nila or whatever sa bandang huli,” Barrios said.
“So ngayon pa lang ipapadala na namin yung roster to find out kung me mga kailangan pang requirements sa paglalaro nila next year so we can promptly comply.”
Slaughter and Lassiter, along with June Mar Fajardo, LA Tenorio, Paul Lee, Jeff Chan, Ryan Reyes, Japeth Aguilar, Ian Sangalang and Troy Rosario, were released to the Gilas pool, as per request by national coach Tab Baldwin, and will join FIBA Asia Championship campaigners Gabe Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro, Marc Pingris, Terrence Romeo, Calvin Abueva and Matt Ganuelas.
Four more names could be added to the pool to make it 21, a source said.
PBA chairman Robert Non, who called an emergency board meeting last week where the league governors unanimously agreed to release unconditionally all players requested by SBP, said the Gilas pool could start once-a-week Monday practices next month.
“By our calculation, aabutin siguro ng 28 Mondays with the whole of June libre na for practice,” said Non, who has been comparing notes regularly with his Meralco Bolts counterpart Al Panlilio, vice president of SBP.
Reports said SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan is elated over this development and has given instructions to his people to prepare all pertinent documents covering the requirements to formally indicate SBP’s interest to bid for the hosting rights to an
Game Today (Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City) 5 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies 7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Star Hotshots
Rain or Shine Coach Yeng Guiao could not hide his worry that the absence of his star guard Paul Lee due to injury makes his team vulnerable.
“I asked the players to make the necessary extra effort,” he said on the eve of the game. “We are not looking to just one guy stepping into the shoes of Paul Lee, lahat kailangan mag-contribute para matakpan yung nagagawa ni Paul.”
Lee injured his right knee during a preseason game against NLEX, and, not knowing the extent of the injury, played in an exhibition game in Kuwait a few days later that aggravated it.
He will be out for a month and Olympic wildcard tournament. Those documents have been forwarded to FIBA, according to Barrios.
It will be known by Nov. 23 whether the Philippines' bid has been looked upon favorably unlike before. The country sought to host the 2019 FIBA World Cup but lost out to China. could miss as many as five games in the Philippine Cup although it could be more depending on how quick he recovers. If his recovery is two months, he will miss the entire first round.
Rain or Shine will play the Star Hotshots in the opening game of the PBA’s 41st season today at 7 p.m. This game would have been played last Sunday but Typhoon Lando altered the schedule that included the opening ceremonies featuring the parade of 12 PBA teams and their muses.
The parade and the speeches will hardly matter to Guiao whose concern will focus on who will step up to fill the shoes of the injured Lee who averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists last season.
“It’s just being tough not just physically but mentally,” said Guiao after the team’s practice session yesterday at the Northeast Green Hill in San Juan City.
“I’m confident we can survive without him. Of course, we’re definitely a different team without him. Magiging crucial ang papel ng mga rookies namin, lalo na si Maverick (Ahanmisi). It’s an opportunity for him to prove himself and rise up to the challenge,” added Guiao.
Rain or Shine though remains formidable even without Lee as the team still has its veteran core of Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, Jireh Ibanes and Chris Tiu, who inked a oneyear deal after initially thinking about retirement.
The other holdovers of the franchise include Jericho Cruz, Raymond Almazan, JR Quinahan and Jeric Teng. Returning to the team is free agent Ronnie Matias.