4-nation invit’l unfolds

For their worthy performances in the recently concluded Jones Cup in Taipei, Kelly Williams, Eric Menk and James Yap loom as strong contenders for berths to the national team bound for the FIBA-Asia Olympic qualifier in Tokushima, Japan from July 28 to Aug 5.

Fil-Am player Gabe Norwood also appears a cinch to make it if he could obtain a Philippine passport in time for the Asian Championship.

With their fine showing in the Jones Cup, Williams, Menk and Yap are retained in the RP team lineup competing in the four-day, four-nation Manila Invitational Championship which gets underway today at The Arena in San Juan.

And chances are they would go all the way to Tokushima, boosting the RP team, which will embark on a quest for a return stint in the Olympics in Beijing next year.

“We’ve seen in the Jones Cup that they can blend and can help the team,” said RP coach Chot Reyes.

KG Canaleta has been dropped from the team while Danny Seigle and Tony dela Cruz will rejoin the Nationals for the Manila Invitational, which is the last tourney the RP quintet is playing before the FIBA-Asia elims.

“The RP team is still a work in progress. The Manila Invitational will determine the final pieces,” said Reyes.

China and Syria clash at 4:30 p.m. while the Philippines and Lebanon collide at 7:30 p.m. at the start of the Manila Invitationals.

Reyes said he will not field Yap, Renren Ritualo and Ranidel de Ocampo against Lebanon. Yap’s status is day-to-day since he suffered a sprained ankle in the Nationals’ last game in Taipei against Kazakhstan.

After playing nine straight games in Taipei and taking only a day’s rest, the Nationals play four successive matches in the Manila Invitationals. Reyes, however, allayed fear of a possible burnout.

“We didn’t play for a long time because of our (FIBA) suspension, this schedule is just right for us,” said Reyes.

The RP team mentor said China should still be a major concern although they’re only fielding their second team in the Manila joust and in the Asian championship.

Reyes also stressed they’re aiming for nothing less than the championship in Tokushima.

“Second place has never been our target ever,” said Reyes.

He said the stint in Jones Cup had helped them in their campaign. “We’ve learned a lot in the Jones Cup. All our objectives were met. To me, the only things that dampened our stint were the losses to Lebanon and Japan,” he said.