Chot keen on Vegas, Jones Cup stints

Despite the rains and the news of the FIBA suspension, members of the PBA-RP national training pool, save those playing in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Cup finals, reported for practice at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center yesterday.

It was business as usual for coach Chot Reyes and his wards whose first major international competition should have been the FIBA-Asia Championship in Doha in September, if not for the ban imposed by the world cage body on the country following the expulsion of the Basketball Association of the Philippines .

"We’re maintaining our focus on the objective which is the 2007 FIBA-Asia Championship serving as the qualifier for the Olympics. So kung hindi man kami makalaro sa Doha, tuloy-tuloy lang ang preparation namin for the 2007 championship," Reyes explained.

The national coach said he has recommended to PBA commissioner Noli Eala in a casual talk Monday night to allow the training pool to continue its preparation for the 2007 Asian championship.

"With the suspension of the Philippines in FIBA-run tourneys, all the more we need to play tournaments like the Global Hoops Challenge in Las Vegas and the Jones Cup. Everything we’re doing now is just part of our objective to make good in 2007," Reyes said.

Asked whether the pool is affected by the recent development in RP basketball, Reyes said: "We’re disappointed but not disheartened."

Reyes said that they would still leave for the United States on July 14 to compete in the Las Vegas tourney slated July 16-20. After returning to the country on the 21st, they then fly to Taiwan on the 23rd to play in the Jones Cup.

"I’ve already talked to the Jones Cup organizers. They told me Jones Cup is not under FIBA. Everything is ready from our plane tickets to hotel accommodations. Sagot nila," said Reyes. — Nelson Beltran