Low-rated RP team worries Chot

Chot Reyes, head coach of the PBA-backed training pool tasked to represent the country in the Asian championship late this year, raised concern over the buildup of the Cebuana Lhuillier-RP squad, saying their ticket to the Asian joust depends on the performance of the all-amateur Nationals in the SEABA tourney in June.

Reyes said "it’s evident their program needs help" after the Nationals suffered a stinging loss to a team led by movie actors in a low-ranked tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum a few days back.

"We have to understand that they’re just starting to formulate their program under a new coach in Boyzie Zamar. Ngayon pa lang nila sinusubukan yon system namin. But there’s no excuse losing to that kind of team," Reyes said.

Zamar’s squad, supposed to be the top favorite in the coming SEABA and SEA Games competitions, drew tremendous flak after bowing to the Parañaque Jets, 56-63, in the NBC Northern finals.

It can’t afford to suffer upset in the SEABA tourney next month or it will deny the country a stint in the FIBA-Asian championship in Doha, Qatar in September.

SEABA serves as the qualifying tourney for the Asian championship, which, in turn, serves as the elimination phase for the world championship and the Olympics.

"Hindi talaga sila dapat matalo o mapupunta sa wala ang pinagpapaguran namin," said Reyes, who returned only Tuesday from a two-week trip from the US, attending several activities to deepen his knowledge of the game.

Under the BAP-PBA accord, the PBA-backed squad is tasked to carry the national colors only in the Jones Cup, the Asian championship and, should it qualify, the world championship and the Olympics.

"We’re operating under the BAP-PBA MOA. Pero meron na rin akong tulong na ibinibigay sa kanila like lending an assistant coach (Aboy Castro), giving them players (Fil-Ams Kenny Williams and Ryan Reyes) and allowing some of their players to work with us," said Reyes.

Reyes personally recruited Williams, 23, in Detroit where he suited up for NCAA Division I school Oakland University. Williams is a 6-foot-6 wingman.

Reyes said lending members of the PBA training pool to the Cebuana Lhuillier team is out of his control.

"It’s not that simple because there’s this MOA. Then conflict ang schedule ng SEABA sa PBA season," said Reyes.