Yeng’s wards tough as Red Bull Barako

Though there’s still no certainty on when Davonn Harp will be reinstated, Red Bull Barako coach Yeng Guiao and his wards are confident they will be highly competitive as they return to action in the Samsung PBA Invitational Cup set to start Sunday at the Astrodome.

The team returns with a souped-up lineup and a new name as the Photokina franchise introduces and promotes new product Red Bull Barako Ice Coffee in can.

"With Jimwell Torion returning, we’ll be a lot more competitive," said Guiao as his team was presented at the PSA Sports Forum at Holiday Inn Manila Pavilion yesterday.

"Kung mga local teams lang ang pag-uusapan, we have a good chance. Mahirap lang magsalita tungkol sa foreign teams dahil hindi natin alam ang composition nila," Guiao added.

Red Bull Barako is bracketed with Korea, Yugoslavia, Talk n Text and FedEx in the brief mid-season tourney. The other bracket is composed of China, the Philippine national team, San Miguel, Coca-Cola and Alaska.

Each bracket plays a single round robin in the eliminations with the top two teams advancing to the crossover single-game knockout semifinals. The semifinal winners then clash in a best-of-three titular series.

Though likely to continue playing minus Harp, Guiao believes his team is well equipped to contend for the crown.

Nelson Asaytono is returning after signing a contract-extension up to the end of the All-Filipino Cup next year. Former UST stalwart Cyrus Baguio became the latest addition to the team as he signed a six-month pact.

"There’s no substitute for Davonn Harp but Mick Pennisi has fully adjusted to playing the role of being our main man in the middle," said Guiao in making special mention of the key role Pennisi will play in the tourney.

Guiao intends to use their fold-up in the recent All-Filipino as their rallying point in the Invitationals.

"Ayaw namin kalimutan ang All-Filipino. We’ll make it our rallying point as we try to prove we’re the best team in the PBA this season," said Guiao, whose Thunder ironically missed the All-Filipino semifinals after utterly dominating the eliminations with a runaway 14-4 win-loss card.

"We’re frustrated kasi nagkaroon ng problema na hindi naman namin hawak," said the vocal Red Bull mentor, referring to the suspension of Torion and Harp due to alleged illegal drug use and crucial calls that went against them in the All-Filipino quarterfinals.

Guiao was still questioning Asaytono’s ejection in their last game in the quarterfinals against Coca-Cola. "Ni-review ko ang game tape para hanapin ang rason bakit na-thrown out si Asaytono. Pero kahit saan angulo ko tignan, talagang wala."

Guiao said Harp had already submitted a medical certificate to the Commissioner’s Office showing he has no signs and symptoms of drug dependency, no past and present indications of drug dependency and negative for both amphetamine/methamphetamine and THC/cannabinoids.