Favis eyed for SEABA coaching job

Binky Favis, a low-key but highly regarded mentor, could well find himself taking on a high profile job as head coach of the Philippine team for the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championships in Singapore in June.

Sources told The STAR last night that national team coach Chot Reyes, the man designated by the cage super body to oversee the formation of the SEABA-bound RP squad, is reportedly inclined on naming the Barangay Ginebra assistant mentor as head coach of the team when the PBA holds its regular board meeting on Monday.

"I’m thinking about it but I haven’t decided yet," Reyes told The STAR when pressed for his reaction on the reported Favis appointment.

This came a day after Reyes named the top amateurs, led by LA Tenorio and Arwind Santos, to spearhead the country’s bid in the SEABA tilt.

The SEABA is the regional qualifying tournament for the Asian Championship slated in Doha, Qatar this year, which in turn will serve as the Asian qualifier for the World Championship in Saitama, Japan next year.

Reyes is tasked to form the best possible squad in Doha to ensure the country’s return stint in the World Championship and possibly the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

If given the post, Favis may pick stalwarts of the Philippine Basketball League to anchor the SEABA squad. Sources said three to four players from the Cebuana Lhuillier team may also be added to the list.

A former UST player, Favis steered Letran to the NCAA title in the late 90s and was assistant coach and chief scout of the RP team that saw action in the Busan Asian Games. Aside from Ginebra coach Bethune Tanquingcen, Favis also acted as assistant to Ron Jacobs, Jong Uichico and Reyes in the PBA.

With the vast talent in the PBL and the collegiate leagues, Reyes also did not rule out the possibility of coming up with an all-amateur squad to the SEABA competitions although if the PBA board agrees, three reinforcements from the pro ranks could be tapped.

"It is also possible that we would be coming up with an all-amateur team but there is also a chance that the pros would be backstopping the squad," added Reyes.

Acting swiftly on that Cebuana Lhuillier debacle and with reports of Chinese players reinforcing Singapore in the SEABA and SEA Games, POC chief Jose "Peping" Cojuangco took the initiative in assembling the stakeholders in Philippine basketball and came up with what they believe was a "win-win" solution. — With report from Nelson Beltran