Commitment to play for country, key to becoming members of PH 5 to World Cup qualifying tllt
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 03 Sep 2018
National basketball team coach Yeng Guiao will have a new team but the same problem when he extends his tour of duty in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers which begins two weeks from now.
"Same problem as before," Guiao said two days after he arrived on Saturday from Jakarta where he steered a rag-tag Philippine team to a decent fifth place finish in the recently-ended 18th Asian Games despite a short two-week preparations.
"We have a short preparation for the Iran window,? Guiao said in reference the Asiad team?s improved showing from seventh four years ago. ?It's a challenge but we'll do our best," Guiao said on Sunday, a day before he was supposed to meet prospective members of his team for the World Cup qualifying tilt.
Guiao, who also coaches the NLEX team in the PBA, will be injecting new players joining the team as a result of the suspensions FIBA meted out on 10 regular members of the national squad as a result of the embarrassing July 2 brawl with Team Australia.
"Almost half of the team will have to be replaced. We?re practically starting again with one week of preparation. We will be cramming again," the former Pampanga congressman and vice governor lamented.
Eight of the players from the Asiad lineup have been invited anew to form the nucleus of the new team -- Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan, and Gabe Norwood, all of Rain or Shine, Stanley Pringle of GlobalPort, Christian Standhardinger of San Miguel Beer, Asi Taulava of NLEX, Poy Erram of Blackwater and Paul Lee from Magnolia.
The inclusion of Standhardinger, who saw action in the Beermen?s debut Sunday in the current PBA Governors? Cup, and Pringle will, depend, however, on wether they had obtained their Philippine passports before they turned 16, which is one of the FIBA requirements to be able to play as imports in tournaments sanctioned by the world?s governing body in the sport.
Left out were an injured James Yap, Chris Tiu and Maverick Ahanmisi, also of the Elasto Painters and NBA star Jordan Clarkson. The Cleveland Cavaliers guard left Sunday to join his mother team?s training camp for the coming NBA season.
Matthew Wright of Phoenix, a member of the original team, was also invited because he's suspended for only one game. He would be available for the Qatar game. Others invited are Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter SMB, Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra, Ian Sangalang of Magnolia, and Allein Maliksi of Blackwater."
The Ginebra Kings? Japeth Aguilar, who was also banned for one game and so was Baser Amer of Meralco, one of only three players who escaped suspension along with Norwood and June Mar Fajardo were both not mentioned as to have been invited.
Monday?s meeting was to have been held at 7 p.m. at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City.
Guiao expressed hope all those invited would attend adding though that there are no guaranteed spots in the 14-player pool.
"Let's see who's committed (to play for the country). The decision needs to be made by the players themselves," he explained. "And from the information I got, the teams already gave their approval. It's really different when we help each other out.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention
Tue, 16 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Justin Cardona Shares Insights Ahead of December 19 Showdown Against Avious Griffin
Tue, 16 Dec 2025JAS MATHUR JOINS MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS AS CEO TO LEAD STRATEGIC VISION, CREATIVITY AND GLOBAL GROWTH INITIATIVES
Tue, 16 Dec 2025Split-T Management Signs Amateur Standout Adrian Salazar
Tue, 16 Dec 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS CANASTOTA’S MANAGER / TRAINER / PROMOTER TONY GRAZIANO
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Catubig, Prado win Suy Foods Santa Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 15 Dec 2025Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025