MVP on debacle: No heads will roll

MANILA, Philippines - Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan is putting behind the ill-fated PLDT Last Home Stand event and maintains he’s keeping his faith on the men at the helm of Gilas Pilipinas, which departs today for a training camp in Miami.

“No heads will roll,” said Pangilinan in an animated Q&A session after his speech before the Rotary Club of Manila at the Manila Polo Club yesterday,

The PLDT president, who took full responsibility for the recent fiasco involving NBA players and the Nationals, said that to pursue a probe on the incident would greatly affect the final stage of preparations of the World Cup-bound squad which is scheduled for a training stint in Miami and a series of tune-up games in Europe.

The two-day charity event would’ve been a big boost for the Nationals’ WC buildup but it was instead aborted for lack of sanctions from the NBA and created an uproar, prompting organizers to refund the tickets bought for the event.

East West Private, the agency tasked to assist the local group in staging the event, drew flak from the fans as the incident became a major setback in the Nationals’ training.

There were reports that EWP had the full support of one of the top officials of the national team but MVP had maintained he has high regards for the man and his family. He added that no action would be taken so as not to affect Gilas Pilipinas’ buildup and keep the morale  of  the members of the team high with the Spain championship barely a month away.

Meanwhile, the 21-strong Gilas delegation takes a long 24-hour haul to Miami – with stops in Tokyo and New York – where the Nationals will pitch a four-day training camp before hopping over to Italy and France for eight to nine tune-up games in the run-up to the world meet that begins Aug. 30.

Gilas is now down to 16 players with Talk n Text gunner Larry Fonacier opting to withdraw due to injury.

“It is with deep sadness that we have to accept Larry’s request to beg off the Gilas pool for the meantime,” said Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes.

“Unknown to many, Larry has been playing through a variety of foot and back injuries that have bothered him the past two years; and it is only his great dedication that has prevented him from taking any time off,” Reyes also said.

“However, the rigors of playing almost non-stop in the PBA and national team for the past three years has taken its toll, leaving Larry with no recourse but to accede to his doctors’ orders for complete rest and rehabilitation. We will definitely miss Larry’s quiet leadership and unyielding heart,” Reyes added.

Fonacier’s ouster could well bolster Paul Lee’s chance to make the final roster although the Gilas coach insists no one has a lock on a spot in the team until they decide on it in time for the submission of the final 12.

The other hopefuls going to Miami where they will be joined in by Andray Blatche are LA Tenorio, Jason Castro, Jimmy Alapag, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Gary David, Jared Dillinger, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Jay Washington, Japeth Aguilar, Junmar Fajardo, Beau Belga and Marcus Douthit.

With the pool and Reyes in the trip are team manager Aboy Castro and assistant coaches Jong Uichico and Josh Reyes.

Former New Zealand and Jordan coach Tab Baldwin helps out the team in their Miami camp. Baldwin had also assisted Gilas in its training and actual participation in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

To follow from Manila in time for the World Cup are assistant coaches Norman Black, Ryan Gregorio and Nash Racela.

The Gilas chief strategist believes the pool members are unaffected by the Last HOME Stand fiasco.

“Everyone’s in great spirits, and except for the fact that we’ll be gone from our families for a long time, everyone’s looking forward to our Miami and Spain trip,” Reyes said.

Of course, they were disappointed they missed two games that could have given them a feel of the kind of competition they’re playing in Seville.

Reyes now hopes that the matches against tough international teams in their Italian and France stops would help them be at their best in the World Cup where they play Argentina, Greece, Croatia, Puerto Rico and Senegal in Group B competition.

The goal is to beat Senegal and one from the four other teams to get a shot at the knockout stage.– With report from Nelson Beltran