National quintet faces tougher test vs South

PANABO, Davao del Norte, Philippines — A tougher challenge awaits the Powerade Team Pilipinas here today as it takes on the core of the victorious team in the 2008 PBA All-Star game and handled by the coach of the last RP team to win a medal in the Asian stage.

The South All Stars, featuring three former national players and two talented imports, take their turn to test the mettle of the Nationals in the second game of the 2009 Motolite PBA All-Star Extravaganza at the Panabo Gym.

RP coach Yeng Guiao expects a tougher battle, facing a team taller and quicker than the North All-Star squad they outclassed, 98-80, at the Victorias Gym in Victorias, Negros Occidental Wednesday.

“They (the South team) have the size and quickness to match up with us. This team could well pose a different challenge for us,” said Guiao.

“Another thing going for them was they had the opportunity to scout us in our game against the North. They’ll surely make adjustments to put us more on the defensive. But we welcome that. This could help us improve,” Guiao added.

“We have two goals coming out in this game. We want to get everybody on the floor and show something. And we want to help them (the Nationals) out,” said South coach Tim Cone, mentor of the RP team that won the bronze medal in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

The Nationals took a seven-hour trip from Bacolod, with a stopover in Cebu, to be here at noon yesterday. The South All Stars flew in a little earlier from Manila. 

Cone has at his disposal imports Rosell Ellis and Jeff Varem and local players Eric Menk, Jimmy Alapag, Dondon Hontiveros, Jay Washington, Dorian Peña, Peter June Simon, Reynel Hugnatan, John Ferriols, JR Quinahan and Ronald Tubid.

Menk, Alapag and Hontiveros have all experienced playing for the national team while Simon, Hugnatan and Ferriols were the biggest stars of the South team that ruled the All-Star Game in Bacolod last year. Simon won the MVP award then.

James Penny was supposed to be the third import for the South team but he opted to stay in Manila due to a strained hamstring.

The Nationals, meanwhile, have doubtful starters in Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes and Sonny Thoss. Williams suffered a bum stomach in Bacolod, Reyes sustained a sprained ankle in the Victorias game while Thoss has been nursing an injured knee for days now.

“I have to ask them if they can play. Personally, I would rather see them sit out this game then be ready for the Sunday game in Manila. If they do, the others would get the opportunity to play longer minutes,” said Guiao.

“I’m not discounting an upset if we relax or if we play complacent. That’s always a possibility. That’s a mental aspect that I often speak about,” Guiao said.

The Powerade Team Pilipinas passed with flying colors its first test in the All-Star Week Wednesday, showing up the North team of coach Chot Reyes.