SMB-RP mainstays form core of Chot’s nat’l team

Key players of Talk n Text, Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer are expected to make up the core of the squad embarking on a mission to give the country a return stint in the Olympics in Beijing next year.

Phone Pals Asi Taulava, Jimmy Alapag and Renren Ritualo, Ginebra Kings Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and Rudy Hatfield and Beermen Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros could lead the 12 players for the RP squad to be announced by national coach Chot Reyes in a press conference today.

Eric Menk, Rafi Reavis, Romel Adducul, Tony dela Cruz, Willy Miller, Yancy de Ocampo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Kerby Raymundo, James Yap, Dorian Peña, Kelly Williams and Enrico Villanueva are the other players with a good chance of making it to the team.

Menk, a veteran of the Busan Asian Games, should have been cinch to make the team if not for his injury. Reyes has apparently sought Menk’s doctors’ advice on the player’s status.

Sources said Reyes’ choices were confined to around 40 players who played for San Miguel Beer-Pilipinas in various international competitions the last two years.

Olsen Racela, Mike Cortez, Brandon Cablay, Mick Pennisi, Larry Fonacier, Mark Telan, Ronald Tubid, KG Canaleta, Don Allado, Wesley Gonzales, Denok Miranda, Arwind Santos, LA Tenorio, Jondan Salvador, Joseph Yeo and Joe DeVance also saw action for the team that had stints in the US, Qatar, Chinese Taipei and Brunei.

Besides going overseas, Reyes and his troops played host to the Asian Champion’s Cup and engaged Lebanon and the Dennis Rodman-led US Legends in exhibition matches at home turf.

They went through all these before deciding to temporarily fold up with the country suspended in FIBA-sanctioned events. This obviously put Reyes’ original program in disarray.

The PBA wants the Chosen Twelve named now due to the proximity of the FIBA-Asia championship which serves as the regional qualifier for the Beijing Games.

After being chosen to wear the country’s tri-color, the 12 players will be automatically pulled out from their mother teams in the PBA to immediately start training for the RP team.

Reyes plans to compete in various international competitions and set exhibition games with regional powers China and South Korea as part of their preparation for the Olympic qualifier.