MANILA, 17 October 2003 — The Philippine team to the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in December will be formed by top collegiate and amateur players.
At the same time, Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Commissioner Chino Trinidad reached out to the national basketball team, offering the squad a chance to see action in the 2003 PBL Platinum Cup as part of its preparations for the regional games.
He said that by participating in the Platinum Cup set to start on Oct. 25, the national team can stay sharp and even peak before the December SEA Games.
“The only way for them to keep their sharpness and competitiveness is to play in the coming conference. We can’t take other countries lightly in the SEA Games,” said Trinidad.
He believes as long as the national basketball association has no sound cage program, time will come when the country’s Southeast Asian rivals would be able to catch up with the Philippines.
Trinidad said the PBL is willing to extend full support to the national team, adding the board is also ready to help the BAP formulate a sound program. As a matter of fact, Trinidad and UAAP Commissioner Joe Lipa had submitted a complete basketball program to the BAP recently.
The BAP, however, ignored the program.
Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) secretary general Graham Lim submitted the names of the players, including four alternates, to the PBL as part of the requirements for the team’s participation in the forthcoming Platinum Cup.
Lim stressed that the list was made upon the recommendation of national team mentor Aric del Rosario and his coaching staff.
The roster includes Paul Artadi, Rich Alvarez, Recaredo Calimag, Celino Cruz, Gary David, Dennis Madrid, Richard Melencio, Ranidel de Ocampo, Ervin Sotto, Marc Pingris, Arwind Santos and James Yap. Alternates are Wesley Gonzales, Alwin Espiritu, Emmerson Oreta and William Wilson. Lim also clarified that the participation of De Ocampo and Sotto will still be tackled by the BAP executive board.
The 6-foot-5 De Ocampo and the 6-foot-7 Sotto played for Saint Francis College in the recent Universities and Colleges Athletic Association. The BAP has withdrawn its sanction to the UCAA following a row.
The Philippine basketball team that will be tasked to defend the SEAG title, which the country has won but once in its history is determined to form a stronger team for the 22nd edition of the competition.
After a stint in the last ABC championships in Harbin, China where the Nationals wound up 15th in a field of 16 nations, the coaching staff, headed by Aric del Rosario, offered no excuses but said hard work and a more talented squad could have averted the debacle.
Del Rosario met with top officials of the BAP upon his arrival and asked that they pool the best talents available for the coming Vietnam assignment where the Philippines is the defending champion.
“We hope the players who were with us in Harbin have learned their lessons,’’ Del Rosario said. “The coaches met with the boys before flying back to Manila and have agreed with us to train harder and be more focused for the December SEAG.’’
The national team avoided what could have been a 16th and last place finish in the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) championship in Haerbin, China, by downing Malaysia 78-63 recently. Before that, the country’s worst finish in the ABC was 12th in the 1995 edition in Seoul, South Korea. The Philippines skipped the 2001 ABC tournament held in Shanghai, China as the BAP was suspended by the FIBA due to a leadership squabble. The BAP, through coach Del Rosario, had formed what many considered a strong team for the ABC joust. But most of the players selected by Del Rosario, including Ocampo and Sotto, failed to join the team in China. Trinidad is also hoping the BAP would reconsider its earlier decision stating that players who didn’t see action in China will not be selected for the SEA Games.
Aside from releasing the players, Trinidad and the PBL board also allowed the Philippine team to play in the league’s coming tournament in a unique set-up that would have the Nationals splitting time between the SEAG squad and their mother ball clubs.
Under the plan, the national pool members would play both for their PBL teams and the RP five for the month of November, except for games that will pit them against each other where, according to Trinidad, the mother ball clubs would give way to the national team.
The PBL will halt its tournament come Dec. 2 to enable the national pool members to concentrate on the SEA Games campaign.
Del Rosario said he will maintain 15-man pool for the PBL training stint before making the final cut in the week leading up to the Vietnam trip. Just recently, PBL chairman Dioceldo Sy said the BAP could not just resort to squid tactics blame the league for its “inefficiency” following the ABC debacle and the country missing again a possible ticket to an Olympic outing.
