PBA takes crack at SEABA joust

The Philippine Basketball Association will field a team in the SEABA championship sometime in May next year, underscoring its bid to have a good shot at clinching a slot in the 2010 World Championship in Turkey.

The PBA board of governors accepted the task offered by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in a meeting attended by national coach Yeng Guiao at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City yesterday morning.

This means now that the RP team formed by Guiao will compete in both the SEABA and the FIBA Asia championships. The SEABA joust is the qualifying tourney for the Asian competition, which is the regional eliminator for the world championship.

As The STAR reported in an exclusive story, making it to Guiao’s 14-man pool are Tokushima veterans Asi Taulava, Mick Pennisi, Kelly Williams, Kerby Raymundo, Gabe Norwood and Jayjay Helterbrand, Tokushima alternates James Yap and Ranidel de Ocampo and new hopefuls Arwind Santos, Willie Miller, Sonny Thoss, Cyrus Baguio, Ryan Reyes and Jared Dillinger.

“We’ll represent the country in the SEABA championship. It will be held sometime in May, so it’s a challenge for the league as we have to make adjustment in our schedule for the second conference,” said PBA commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios.

Prior to the FIBA Asia championship, the RP team may also compete in the Jones Cup in Taipei, in a pocket tournament in the Middle East and, a possible Manila Invitational tourney to be hosted by the PBA.

No venue has yet been set for the SEABA competition, which coach Chot Reyes’ RP team swept last year in Ratchaburi, Thailand en route to clinching a berth in the 2007 FIBA-Asia Olympic qualifier in Tokushima, Japan.

“We still don’t know where and when exactly it’s going to be held. Most probably, the PBA will take a break during its staging,” said Barrios.

Guiao described his team as a mixture of veterans and young players, short at the frontcourt but replete with talents with quickness and the ability to score at the backcourt.

“I’m confident of our talent in the guard positions. We have the speed and the ability to score. We also have athletic wing players in Kelly Williams and Gabe Norwood. But it’s not as big as I wanted it to be. Short as they are against the frontliners of the other teams, Asi (Taulava) and Mick (Pennisi) must hold their own,” said Guiao. 

“We’ve talked to all these players and all committed themselves to the cause. We didn’t force or twist anybody’s arm. They will represent the country in their own free will,” Guiao also said.

Seriously considered but failing to make it were Jimmy Alapag and Mark Caguioa.

“Our concern with Jimmy is his height. Height mismatches are emphasized in international tourney. On Mark, we couldn’t make judgment because of his injury. His coach Jong Uichico told us his condition is uncertain,” said Guiao.

Guiao meets the players for an orientation conference Monday. They start their once-a-week practice during the current PBA conference the next Monday at The Arena in San Juan.

The feisty national coach didn’t discount the possibility of adding one or two players depending on the necessity of the team.

He said the 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar, a former Ateneo Eagle now playing for West Kentucky in the US NCAA, is coming in May to try out with the team.