RP-SEABA, determinado

Muling naiipit ang mga manlalaro ng Basketball Association of the Philippines. Para silang mga magsasakang nagtatanim habang may unos na pabagsak sa kanila. Subalit, ano pa nga ba ang magagawa nila hangga’t di sila pinatitigil ng BAP?

"The official status of the BAP and its direction is to continue training, and to also join this competition, as we’re doing right now here at the NBC and the other leagues we intend to join," sagot ni RP-SEABA head coach Boycie Zamar. "Whether it’s separate or not, jointly or not, we are preparing for the SEABA. "I’d rather leave it to the BAP. All we have to do right now is take care of the athletes. My obligation right now, my responsibility right now is the team, the players, the staff, to get them ready not only physically, but also mentally."

Mula nang mawala ang suporta ng Cebuana Lhuillier, inabandona na nila BJ Manalo, Christian Luanzon at Jeff Bombeo ang koponan. Binansagan ng mga nalalabi ang sarili nilang ‘magnificent 10’ dahil sila umano ang mga talagang sasabak sa laban. Samantala, bumalik na ang sentrong si Chris Cantonjos mula sa operasyon sa tuhod, at nadagdag pa ang tulong ni Jerry Codiñera bilang assistant coach

"Morale is really high, honestly," sabi ni Zamar. "We had a boot camp with the Navy SEALS. It was a great opportunity. It was a mental exercise. These SEALS are willing to die for the country with a minimum wage. That’s the way they attack the enemy."

Lalong tumindi ang determinasyon ng RP-SEABA dala ng pagsasanay nila sa Navy SEALS, na nakita nilang handang tumulong

"Physically, medyo nakabalik na kami, galing sa injury," paliwanag ni Richie Melencio, na nakabalik sa koponan noong Marso."But my teammates have been keeping in game shape, so we’re ready."

"It’s all part of the plan of the Lord," dagdag ni Dennis Madrid. "Iyan ang palagi kong sinasabi kay coach. Lahat naman ito, palatan-daan na may mas magandang kasunod."

Bagamat patung-patong ang mga naging problema, tuloy pa rin ang pagsusumikap ng RP-SEABA

"Every day, hard practice pa rin, araw-araw, we give our best," pahabol ng 6’9 na si Samigue Eman. "Naglaro naman kami sa SEABA last year. Makukuha natin iyan, malaki ang chance."

"This already happened to me in 2001," paalala ni Zamar. "We formed a team of PBL players, and then the MBA was involved. Now, everyone is getting entangled again. But that’s basketball. The pressure is always there. You have the pressure from the game, the pressure from opponents, even pressure from the international referees. You have to play over and above injuries. We just need to focus on one thing at a time, and keep on training, until the BAP tells us to stop."

At may malaking katanungan na sinagot din ng mga player: bakit ba pinag-iinteresan ang kanilang puwesto?

"Di ko nga alam kung ano ba talaga ang interes ng mga tao, bakit gusto nilang kunin itong team," wika ni Melencio. "Naglaro naman kami sa SEA Games sa Vietnam, sa SEABA, wala namang ganitong problema. Ang naiisip ko lang ay dito sa Pilipinas gagawin ang SEA Games, kaya ang mga tao nagkaka-interes."