MANILA, 15 February — First, the good news: The Fil-Am players are doing well during scrimmages. Indeed, many of them deserve to wear the national jerseys in the Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea.
Now, the bad news: Lebanon, a potential title contender in the quadrennial games, is reportedly recruiting three Lebanese-American to beef up its roster.
So the Philippines is not alone in enlisting the aid of foreign-bred players after all, huh?
Head coach Jong Uichico has tasked assistant coach Eric Altamirano to confirm reports that Lebanon, among the teams expected to figure prominently in Pusan, has acquired the services of three Lebanese-Americans.
“We heard about this report and we want to look into it. We all know that players who learned the sport in the US are usually very talented,” said Uichico, who took over the coaching from American Ron Jacobs after the latter was felled by a mild stroke in December.
The recruitment report reached the national coaching staff of Uichico sometime last week.
Lebanon finished behind perennial champion China in the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) with a team backstopped by two Lebanese-Americans, Joseph William Vogel and Richard Hallet.
Vogel is a 6-foot-11, 245-pound center who played for Lebanon during the 1999 McDonalds Championships won by the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
However, it was not known if the two were the same reinforcements Lebanon is pursuing to bolster its chances of winning the title in the quadrennial games.
Right now, Uichico’s coaching staff is stepping up its bid to scout the opposing countries that will participate in Pusan this September.
Uichico said assistant mentor Binky Favis is set to leave for Kuala Lumpur in April to scout the Middle East countries that will participate in a tournament there, while Eric Altamirano was assigned to track down roster changes among the top teams.
The Lebanon report prompted Uichico and his staff to step up their scouting of the opponents, which would run parallel with yet another round of extensive training for the national team at the Moro Lorenzo gym.
“There might be earlier tournaments where we can begin scouting, but until it is confirmed, we will begin with the Kuala Lumpur thing,” said Uichico.
The national mentor said monitoring the former Russian states is what the coaching staff has a hard time doing.
“Right now, the best thing we have is the fact that there are club tournaments. But the players for the national team are usually scattered in different clubs so we don’t know where to scout their national team as a team,” said Uichico.
Uichico’s wariness for the former Russian states lies in the fact that Kazakhstan nearly pulled off a pair of upsets against the Philippines in the 1998 Asiad, with the Centennial Team barely escaping for a third-place finish. China and Korea, the traditional pre-tournament favorites, have usually taken the top two slots in the quadrennial Games, but Japan, the Philippines, the former Russian states and Middle Eastern countries are expected to offer stiffer opposition this time around.
“Right now, all we can rely on are tapes from previous tournaments where these teams played. But we want a fresher look at them as much as possible before the Asian Games begin,” he explained.
Paul Howard, a close friend of Jacobs, has been tapped to scout Lebanon and China in the Word Championship in Indianapolis, USA, which will run from August to September.
“Paul has offered his services and we want to use all available help we can,” said the national mentor.
Uichico expects Howard and Favis to have their hands full in the coming months.
He said the job would not be left entirely on the hands of the scouts, with a very distinct possibility that his assistants, Allan Caidic and Altamirano, and even himself going abroad.
“We want to know what we can do against these teams on a general basis,” said Uichico who said he will tap all available resources utilized by Jacobs, including the latter’s contacts when in comes to scouting.
Uichico has assumed the head coaching job from Jacobs, who owns an impressive winning record against Asian power China, and will follow basically the same program that the latter had drawn up before being hospitalized.
Uichico and his assistants began considering the most probable places and tournaments where the tough teams in Pusan, like China, South Korea, Lebanon, among others, could be scouted to better draw up a battle plan for the national team.
“We want to know as much about the opposition as possible. We do not want to be groping in the dark when the tournament comes. And we are not talking about just one team here,” said Uichico.
A more detailed scouting of the Asian Games opposition has been laid down by PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino as one of the “musts” in the preparations of the team.
“If possible, we can track down the profiles of our enemies’ coaches,” Bernardino said when he laid down the framework of the comprehensive program he helped draw up.
The tournament high up in the coaching staff’s mind is the World Basketball Championship in Indianapolis in August, where Asia would be represented by China and Lebanon.
“We must have some of our scouts there since we know that those who would compete there would most likely be our opponents in Pusan,” Uichico said.
Uichico said that least of their priorities is the Jones Cup in Taipei sometime in September despite the fact that Japan and South Korea are seeing action in the tourney.
“Traditionally, only Japan and the Philippines send their national teams there,” explained Uichico. “South Korea uses that tournament for its juniors team while the game tapes could be used to scout Japan.”
Uichico will resume practice with the two training teams and focus this time will be on trying to make sure the players would stick to the amateur style of play in a 40-minute basis.
The two teams scrimmaged for the first time last week and did a good job moving around, screening off and cutting to the basket.
But when things got close in the stretch, the two teams again went down to the post, looking for mismatches with their big men.
“That’s what we want to take out. We want the players to be very comfortable with the amateur style of play, which means a lot of movement, even in a tight situation. During the scrimmage, when the game was close, the teams tried to score by throwing the ball at the post. We can’t do that against China, Korea, Japan and the big Middle Eastern and satellite countries,” said Uichico.
Uichico said he couldn’t ask more from the players sweating it out in drills, sacrificing personal goals, and adjusting to the international rules they will face in Pusan.
“The guys are working hard and they’re getting along,” said Uichico. “The intensity at practice is fantastic. Their attitude is great — they’re proud to be part of the national team.”
And if there’s an opportunity to train abroad, Uichico said he prefers a US summer tour to enable the national team to play against taller and much quicker opponents.
The trip, Uichico believes, would also allow the players to bond more closely before going to war in Busan.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” said Uichico. “Right now, the guys are just playing out of their PBA habits. We’re finding out what we can and can’t do, who can and can’t play together. We’re trying out different combinations. We’re getting in shape and we’re going back to basics. We’re doing general things so far. Once we’ve picked the last 15 or 18, then we’ll start on the details.”
Uichico said coaching the pool and a PBA team are worlds apart.
“In the PBA, you maximize the strengths of your players,” he explained. “In the pool, we’re looking for players who can be coached because we’re trying to mold a team that can win in Pusan.
“The players must be willing to adjust — some will be asked to make a 360-degree turn. You might be a go-to guy in the PBA but in the national team, your role might be different.
“You might dominate in the PBA because of your size but in Busan, you might not be able to post up as easily against bigger guys in a zone. So you’ve got to adjust. It doesn’t mean that if you don’t get the ball, you’re not effective or you’re not useful — it just means you have to play your role and work within the system. It’s all about leaving your ego behind.”
Uichico said he’s more nervous than excited about the coaching job, particularly the challenges the team is facing in Pusan.
“There’s a lot of pressure,” he admitted. “All I ask is for everyone’s support — not to put the team down. Whether I was the right or wrong choice, what can I do? According to the papers, nobody wanted the job. So I was picked because I was already there, working with coach Ron (Jacobs). Who else? I’ll just do the best I can.”
So far, Uichico has already viewed over 20 tapes of games from the last edition of the Asian Games in 1998.
But he’s not taking any team lightly. And he’s expecting to view a lot more tapes.
“I can’t say if China is beatable or not,” said Uichico. “Their size is dominating — they’ve got those two seven-footers. But we’ve got a fighting chance. We just have to plan our attack very well.”
Uichico said he will sit on the bench of each candidates team in the current PBA Governors’ Cup.
“At first, I thought of just watching from the sidelines,” said Uichico. “But I’ve decided to sit on the bench to get a feel of the players during a game so I can also give my inputs to Allan (Caidic) and Eric (Altamirano). If I coach both teams and still conduct the practices, I’ll be so drained and I might not last until Pusan.”
Uichico said he’s looking forward to a healthy relationship with the players in the pool.
The incident involving Marlou Aquino is a thing of the past, he said.
“It’s hard to deal with 30 players,” he said. “I’m learning. I hope the players understand. I’ve spoken to Marlou and everything’s okay — a little misunderstanding and miscommunication. The Commissioner (Jun Bernardino) helped sort out the problem. Now, Marlou’s back practicing hard.
“Everyone’s committed to the team. Our practice starts at 9 a.m. but some of the guys are shooting or lifting weights by 7:30. Dennis (Espino) even came to practice sick once and we sent him home because his fever was so high.”
Uichico said the team’s scrimmage only on Saturdays. During the week, he calls for a combined practice two or three days and for split sessions the other days.
“We’re lucky we decided to pick 30 players for two teams,” he said. “Imagine if we chose only 18 and five or six are injured. As it is, the injuries aren’t balancing out the teams because Hapee (Team B) has more size than Selecta (Team A).”
There are 14 Fil-foreigners among the 30 candidates, who have been divided into two teams seeing action in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors Cup.
Making up Philippine Team A are Eric Menk, Kenneth Duremdes, Dennis Espino, Paul Asi Taulava, Olsen Racela, Chris Jackson, Patrick Fran, Dondon Hontiveros, Chris Calaguio, Rafi Reavis, Ali Peek, Poch Junio, Jimmy Alapag, Chris Clay and Jeffrey Flowers.
The Philippine Team B are composed of Marlou Aquino, Johnny Abarrientos, Boyet Fernandez, Danny Seigle, Noy Castillo, Renren Ritualo, Jeffrey Cariaso, Don Camaso, Rudy Hatfield, Danny Ildefonso, Mick Pennisi, Andy Seigle, Davonn Harp, EJ Feihl and Romel Adducul.
The 30 players divided into two teams are playing in the ongoing Governors Cup, the PBA’s first offering for the 2002 season.
Uichico will then trim down those two teams to one come the Commissioner’s Cup before coming up with the final list after the second conference, just in time for the team’s departure to Pusan.
He will trim the pool players to 15 or 18 — not 24 as originally planned — after the First Conference. Then, the remaining players will form the team for the Second Conference where Uichico hopes each PBA team is allowed to recruit an import without a height limit.
The Fil-Ams are oozing with height, heft, speed and talent giving the Philippines the best chance of beating the opposition, most notably the perennial Asian Games champion China, in Pusan.
Interestingly, with most of the Filipino players out with a cocktail of injuries, focus will be on the Fil-foreign players who, many believe, will outnumber the pure local talent in the Philippine team.
