PBA’s final 12 for Busan good as in

Whether they were picked at random or not, the top 12 names in the entry list forwarded by the PBA to the Philippine Olympic Committee yesterday afternoon are believed to be the final composition of the country’s cage team to the Busan Asian Games next month.

The documents faxed to the POC office for accreditation actually contained the names of all 15 players comprising the national pool. But three of them — Mick Pennisi, Chris Jackson and Boyet Fernandez — will be marked under the reserve list when they fly to the Korean industrial hub.

The 12 players topping the "unofficial" list were Danny Ildefonso, Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, Danny Seigle, Andy Seigle, Dennis Espino, Rudy Hatfield, Kenneth Duremdes, Jeffrey Cariaso, Dondon Hontiveros, Noy Castillo and Olsen Racea.

Team officials said the names were picked at random although jaded observers think otherwise since the names of Pennisi, Jackson and Fernandez have long cropped up as those to be placed on the reserve list for the quadrennial event scheduled Sept. 29 to Oct. 14.

The 13 countries vying for the gold in men’s basketball will be allowed to make changes in their lineups only during the team managers’ meeting three days before the start of the competition. Therefore, barring any last-minute changes, the 12-man RP roster stays.

Meanwhile, Red Bull and San Miguel players and officials will appear before acting PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios today to shed light on the off-court scuffle that took place at halftime of their semifinal encounter last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

San Miguel import Terq Mott blew his top as players from both teams were heading to their respective dugouts for the halftime break and, according to reports, tried to choke Red Bull counterpart Tony Lang. This sparked a near free-for-all between players and officials.

Also involved in the melee was controversial Talk N Text coach Bill Bayno, who was shoved by SMB assistant coach Art del Cruz after a verbal tussle. Bayno was not summoned since Barrios would like to hear the side of the two teams first.

"We’ll simply go through the process, get their sides and rule based on what they tell us. I’m keeping an open mind on this issue, and the decision will all depend on the collective data and their respective demeanor and how they respond to the summons," said Barrios.

A Red Bull official yesterday said Lang has no plans of filing charges of physical and verbal abuse against Mott since it would only distract the Thunder, enjoying a 2-0 lead over the Beermen in their best-of-five series, as they gear up for the final.