Indons another threat to RP five

A veteran Indonesian team has added to the concerns of Philippine national team coach Dave Zamar.

And it is understandable.

The Indons, backstopped by prolific scorers Romy Chandra and Antonius Ferry Rinaldo, are practically the same crew that slew Danny Ildefonso and Co. in the finals of the 1996 South East Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) Men’s Championships in Surabaya, Indonesia.

"They (Indons) have the ability to pull off a surprise as they did against our team five years ago," said Zamar. "But we will be ready against them."

Team captain Romel Adducul has an added reason to be extra wary of the Indons because he himself was part of the team that lost to the hosts in the Surabaya.

"They took me out. Imagine me getting three fouls in a 30-second span," lamented the six-foot-six top RP team center/forward who was disqualified in that game on fouls. "Now, it’s payback time," said Adducul.

The Indonesians are arriving in two batches today in time for the opening of the fourth Seaba Men’s Basketball Championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum tomorrow.

Zamar also believes that Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are the other three teams to watch out for.

The Singaporeans could be bannered by two naturalized Chinese players while Thailand, led by Boonchuy Popark and Dilip Rai, has remained intact since giving the Centennial Team hell in the 1998 Bangkok Asiad.

Basketball Association of the Philippines president Tiny Literal appointed businessman-sportsman Alvin Tai Lian as team manager of the Philippine team which opens its defense of the title against Singapore at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Guest of honor of the cagefest supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Bestank, Molten, Rain Forest Mineral Water, Absolute Distilled Water, YKL Color, Baker’s Fair and Orchid Garden Suites, is Executive Secretary Renato de Villa.

Project director of the weeklong championships is Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson while chairman of the organizing committee is BAP president Literal. His co-chairmen are Philip Juico and Fernando Carrascoso.

ABS-CBN will provide the TV coverage for the games using PTV4 as broadcast vehicle.