Pros to don RP colors in SEABA

Citing its full support to the national team, the Philippine Basketball Association is now willing to help ensure the country’s victory in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championship in Singapore this June.

Commissioner Noli Eala said during yesterday’s star-studded basketball summit that PBA players from teams that will no longer be in contention in the Fiesta Conference by June may be tapped to form or reinforce the RP team to the forthcoming tournament.

"Six of the 10 teams won’t make it to the semis of our ongoing tournament in June. So that gives you 72 (available) players. I just don’t know how many among them are part of the 20-player pool under coach Chot Reyes," said Eala.

"But I cannot make any commitment right now. We still have to look at it and study it," said Eala in response to a call made by Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco for the PBA to represent the country in the SEABA tilt.

As Eala was turning over the microphone to Cojuangco, Reyes, who was tapped by the PBA to form a strong 20-man pool for the 2007 Asian Basketball Championship, whispered something to the PBA commissioner.

"Okay, it’s doable daw sabi ni coach Chot," said Eala, virtually sealing the PBA’s participation in the Singapore event where the top two teams will make it to the 2005 ABC tournament in Doha, Qatar, in September.

The team that will represent the country in Singapore will form the nucleus of the squad that will see action in Qatar.

The two-hour summit held at the Cojuangco property in Dasmariñas Village was attended by the country’s biggest names in basketball. During the summit, arranged by sportsman Go Teng Kok, the RP Basketball Committee was also formed.

Cojuangco volunteered himself as committee chairman then named Joey Romasanta as secretary. The other members of the committee will be known before it holds its first official meeting on Monday.

"Is that all right with you?" Cojuangco asked over the microphone.

Nobody objected.

From now on, the committee will be there to help the Basketball Association of the Philippines chart its course, particularly in the fielding of teams to future international tournaments.

During the meeting, Go tendered his resignation as adviser of the Basketball Association of the Philippines and project director of the Philippines’ bid to host the 2007 ABC, which serves as a qualifying tournament for the 2008 Olympics.

It was not accepted by the BAP.

"Why should we when he’s the only one helping us. He’s the only one who gives us advice and he’s the only one who can help us with our bid to host the 2007 ABC. Without him, mahihirapan tayo sa bid natin," said BAP vice president Christian Tan.

After short speeches by PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad, former PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino, Air 21 president Lito Alvarez, RP Cebuana-Lhuillier coach Boyzie Zamar and even POC chair Robert Aventajado, Cojuangco took the floor.

"I have come up with my own conclusion now that everybody has signified their commitment. This is my suggestion," he said.

"Why don’t we field Chot Reyes’ Team A or Team B to the SEABA. Because why will we form a different one and when it emerges victorious, sasabihin natin ‘okay thank you, pero hindi kayo ang lalaro sa ABC.’ That will be quite unfair.

"So why don’t we try this team now," added Cojuangco, referring to the PBA-formed pool of 18 pros and two amateurs divided into two teams but working and training under one program prepared by Reyes.

A recent loss by the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed RP squad to a team from Parañaque in the recent finals of the NBC pre-season tournament has placed the country’s readiness in the SEABA and the SEA Games in November in question.