RP must field best team in Doha — Chot

The possible absence of NBA superstar Yao Ming in the Chinese team for this year’s Asian Games in Doha, Qatar only makes the battle for the gold medal even more interesting.

Chot Reyes, head coach of the RP pool being prepared for the 2007 FIBA Championship, therefore believes the country should field its best team to the 15th Asian Games on Dec. 1 to 15.

"I read in the papers that Yao Ming is definitely seeing action in this year’s World Championship in Japan so most likely he will not be allowed by the Houston Rockets to also play in the Asian Games," Reyes said during yesterday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan Forum.

"I don’t think there is any team stronger than China in Asia with Yao Ming there. But without him, any team, including the Philippines has a chance to win in the Asian Games," he added.

Reyes’ team made up of the country’s finest pro and amateur players, is hoping to use the FIBA Championship as its ticket to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

But before that, Reyes believes that the country should not pass on the opportunity to do as well in the Asian Games where Korea will try to defend the crown.

The Koreans stunned the Chinese in the finals of the 2002 Busan Asian Games where the Filipinos landed fourth, losing to Kazakhstan in the battle for the bronze.

The coming Asian Games, however, is not part of the memorandum of agreement between the Philippine Basketball Association and the Basketball Association of the Philippines.

It will take a lot of effort to change that. And to make it happen, the FIBA suspension on the Philippines should first be lifted before the end of this month.

"At this point in time, I really wish and pray that our officials can put their act together so this impasse can be resolved and we can play in the Asian Games," said Reyes.

Reyes said without Yao, other countries like Lebanon, Japan and of course Korea and the Philippines will have greater chances to beat China.

"And we have, to a certain extent, beaten these teams before so there is the possibility that we can beat them again," Reyes said.

"Besides, I want to give our kababayans in Qatar what they missed in last FIBA Championship where we were supposed to play but did not because of the suspension. They really were expecting a Philippine team to play there," he said.