A heavy six-game bill kicks off the tournament with SEABA champion Malaysia and runner-up Indonesia representing the Southeast Asian region after the Philippines was barred due to the FIBA suspension.
The Philippines could have easily topped the SEABA championship and should have been among the favorites to make the medal plays in the Asian championship, which also serves as the qualifier for the world championship in Saitama, Japan next year.
"It’s sad all our preparations have gone to waste," said PBA commissioner Noli Eala, referring to the massive buildup undertaken by the PBA-backed RP team under coach Chot Reyes.
The squad has competed in the Global Hoops Challenge in Las Vegas and in the Jones Cup in Taiwan and is currently playing in the fifth Shell Rimula X Brunei basketball tournament.
Before FIBA-Asia released the schedule of games for the Asian joust, Filipino cage officials were hoping for the lifting of the suspension and a stint in the tournament as a wild card bet.
However, FIBA-Asia has practically shut the door on the Philippines with the official release of the bracketing and schedule Monday.
Basketball Association of the Philippines received the communication from FIBA-Asia secretary general Datu Yeoh Choo Hock.
Without the suspension, the Philippines should have been bracketed with South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in Group A and could have easily advanced to the quarterfinals.
Malaysia plays Saudi Arabia on Sept. 9, Kuwait on the 10th and South Korea the following day.
Indonesia, the other SEABA bet, is with Japan, Kazakhstan and Qatar in Group C. Chinese Taipei, Iran, China and Uzbekistan make up Group B while India, Jordan, Hong Kong and Lebanon compose Group D.
Philippine Olympic Committee top official Go Teng Kok, however, expressed confidence the suspension would be lifted soon and the country could salvage the staging of the basketball event in the Southeast Asian Games the country is hosting from Nov. 27-Dec. 5.
"I’ve been in constant talks with FIBA officials and I can promise the suspension will be lifted in a matter of time," said Go during the PSA Sports Forum in Pantalan restaurant yesterday. — Nelson Beltran