National cagers under fire

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco will not take this sitting down: the RP men’s basketball team, supposed to be the favorites in this year’s SEA Games, losing in the finals of a low-ranked tournament last Sunday.

"Ayusin ninyo ‘yan," Cojuangco reportedly said in disgust after learning that the Nationals, with barely seven months before the SEA Games, lost to a team led by movie actors in the NBC Northern finals at the Rizal Coliseum.

This developed as Chino Trinidad, commissioner of the Philippine Basketball League, called for the disbandment of the team and blamed the BAP (Basketball Association of the Philippines) for the embarrassing setback.

"Let’s face reality, it’s a team of thrash," said Trinidad, angered by the mere mention of the humiliation suffered by the Nationals. "It’s a disgrace not only in international basketball, but also in our country. Nakakahiya."

"Ibibitay tayo ng mga Filipino kapag natalo tayo sa basketball," Cojuangco, according to POC media affairs chief Joey Romasanta, added. The Philippines is the undisputed champion in men’s basketball of the SEA Games.

"Mr. Cojuangco did not like what happened," said Romasanta who met with beleaguered RP team head coach Boysie Zamar and Basketball Association of the Philippines secretary-general Graham Lim yesterday.

"I did not ask them (Zamar and Lim) anymore how it happened and why it happened. But what they told me was that they have called for an open tryout for the team," said Romasanta.

Whether the tryouts this close to the Nov. 27-Dec. 5 SEA Games were really part of the BAP program Romasanta couldn’t say.

"Kasama daw eh. That’s what I was told. And the tryouts were supposed to start tonight (Wednesday). It’s part daw of the team’s re-evaluation," Romasanta added.

"It’s the BAP’s fault, but it seems they’ve allowed themselves to embrace the culture of mediocrity kaya ganito na ang nangyayari," said Trinidad.

He instead proposed the complete dissolution of the BAP he claimed controlled by "a cartel of Chinese."

"It’s about time that the BAP undergo drastic changes before it’s too late, or is too late?" said Trinidad. "We should dissolve the BAP completely and allow everyone to be involved or it will be death for the RP basketball."

The 56-63 loss to the Parañaque Jets left the entire RP basketball team red-faced.

They were even ribbed and short of ridiculed during a noontime show where Anjo Yllana, the Parañaque Vice Mayor who heads the Jets, appears. Other actors who are members of the team are Richard Gomez and Antonio Aquitania.

The Nationals are also gearing up for the SEABA Championship scheduled in Singapore in June. But with the recent loss in the tournament they were supposed to win even with their hands tied, major changes could take place.

"I told them (Zamar and Lim) why not send the PBA team to the SEABA. Overkill naman daw was their answer. Mahirap na because if we don’t do well in the SEABA, we cannot see action in the 2006 Asian Games," Romasanta added.

"Eh kung tinatalo sila ng ordinary team dito sa atin, what assurance do we have na hindi sila tatalunin ng Malaysia or Indonesia or Thailand? This is a wake-up call for them," Romasanta said.

The Nationals, who won their elimination matches by an average margin of 19.5 points, were stunned by the Jets’ ferocious defense that held them to just one basket in the final five minutes.

The Jets lost to the Nationals in the first round of the tournament, 88-114, only to show up with the heart of a champion in the finals held last Sunday, beating the Nationals and leaving the SEA Games gold up in the balance.

Trinidad also lambasted Zamar for making lame excuses for the humiliation suffered by the Cebuana Lhuillier-bankrolled squad preparing for the biennial 11-nation conclave slated Nov. 27-Dec. 5.

"This inexcusable, he (Zamar) has to resign, he has no right to coach the national team. We can’t regain lost pride with this kind of team," he said.

The top PBL official also offered the services of players from his league to represent the country in the 23rd RP SEAG.

To date, the country’s top amateur cagers are playing in the PBL, among them Arwind Santos, Mark Cardona, LA Tenorio, Gabby Espinas, Dennis Miranda, Jondan Salvador, Jemal Vizcarra, Ronjay Enrile, Froilan Baguion, and Fil-Ams Anthony Washington and Mike Holper.