RP 5 still force to reckon with

Never mind the latest setback–the ouster of Danny Seigle on injury–that hit the RP basketball team to the Asian Games.

In the eyes of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Jun Bernardino, the fourth all-pro squad to the Asiad still remains a major contender for the gold medal even in the absence of the player who would have been the team’s biggest offensive threat.

Bernardino leads the delegation as it departs for Busan, Korea this afternoon.

On the eve of their departure, the coaching staff, led by coach Jong Uichico, and some of the players visited bed ridden coach Ron Jacobs in his Pasig condominium, asking for his blessing, guidance and wisdom.

That he’s a perpetual optimist is one of two good reasons Bernardino cited why he believes in the ability of this Fil-Am reinforced team.

As for the other, he said upsets have been the fad in the basketball world of late.

"This is the year of the upsets," said Bernardino in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Holiday Inn Hotel, pointing among others, the shocking loss of powerhouse US team in the last World Basketball Championship in Indianapolis, Ateneo denying four-time defending champion La Salle a 14-game sweep of the UAAP eliminations and, in a way, Talk N Text forcing a heavily favored Red Bull side to seven grueling games in the recent PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals.

Such developments, according to Bernardino, augur well for the country’s campaign to end a 40-year drought for the Asiad cage gold last won by a Filipino team backstopped by Caloy Loyzaga and a young Rhoel Nadurata back in 1962.

And Bernardino is convinced no team is unbeatable in the Asiad, not even China.

"Hope springs eternal. They (Chinese) are beatable. Every team, in fact, is beatable in this Games," Bernardino said in the forum sponsored by Agfa, Red Bull and Pioneer Insurance.

But he admitted it won’t be easy.

Uichico himself conceded the job has become tougher with the team losing great flexibility on the ouster Seigle.

At presstime, the status of the older Seigle–Andy–was still doubtful with the coaching staff awaiting the result of his MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test. Andy also missed the RP-Qatar series after hurting his back while still doing the round-robin in the first game Sunday.

"Definitely, Danny is a great loss," Bernardino said. "But things happen for a reason. His case could even become a rallying point for the team.

"One way to positively look at it is that the injury happened now and not at the time when competitions in Busan had begun. At least, we have more time to prepare and make the necessary adjustments."

Bernardino said he’s unaware who will take over the spot vacated by Seigle, adding that coach Uichico won’t make the announcement until the team manager’s meeting tomorrow.

Mick Pennisi, Chris Jackson and Boyet Fernandez are the alternates named by Uichico in the team.