The Philippine team, gearing up for its forthcoming campaigns in the ABC men’s championship in China and the SEA Games in Vietnam, challenges San Miguel Beer in the other game.
The Yonsei-Red Bull Barako duel could turn out to be a fiery shootout with the Koreans known for their good passing game and deadly outside shooting prowess and the Thunder among the top offensive teams in the league.
Though it’s still uncertain when Davonn Harp will be back, coach Yeng Guiao and his Thunder brim with confidence they will be highly competitive.
"Kung local teams lang ang paguusapan, we’re confident we’ll have a good chance against them. Mahirap lang magsalita against the foreign teams dahil hindi natin kilala ang lineups nila," said Guiao.
"Ang alam lang natin dito sa mga foreign teams, particularly the Koreans, they spread the court and shoot well from the outside," Guiao added.
Yonsei University will be bannered by four mainstays of the Korean national junior team that whipped rival China, 101-72, in the recently-concluded world junior championship in Greece. The youth players are Yang Hee-Jong, Kim Tae-Sul, Kim Jae-Hwan and Lee Kwang-Jae
The Koreans debut in the three-week PBA Invitationals against the Thunder who are welcoming the return of ace pointguard Jimwell Torion.
"We’ve become a lot more competitive on Torion’s return," said Guiao.
The spitfirish Cebuano pointguard averaged 9.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists in the season before being suspended for flunking the league’s random drug test.
With Harp still in the sidelines, Guiao expects 6-foot-10 Fil-Italian behemoth Mick Pennisi to be a major factor in their drive in the brief mid-season tourney.
"He has adjusted to be our man in the middle. Noong nawala si Davonn sa All-Filipino, hindi siya nakapag-adjust kaagad."
. But had we advanced to the semis, some more games and I’m sure he would have played a lot more better," said Guiao.
Just like Red Bull Barako, San Miguel will continue to miss the services of a key player in Danny Seigle who’s out with a foot injury. Another big guy Dorian Pena is also serving a suspension for alleged illegal drug use.
Both Red Bull Barako and San Miguel Beer failed to make it past the All-Filipino Cup elims and are raring to do better in this tournament.
The Thunder are bracketed with the Koreans, the Yugoslavian junior team, the Talk n Text Phone Pals and the FedEx Express while the Beermen are with the Jilin Qi Tigers from China, the RP team, the Coca-Cola Tigers and the Alaska Aces.
Guiao and San Miguel counterpart Jong Uichico said their initial target is to make it to the crossover knockout semifinals.