RP lineup vs NBA legends bared

RP coach Chot Reyes has put up a team with size and flexibility that could hopefully match up with the experience and talent of the visiting squad of Dennis Rodman and other former NBA greats in the main game of The Bad Boy Tour on May 1 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Reyes listed pointguards Jimmy Alapag and Mike Cortez, shooters Willie Miller, Renren Ritualo, Dondon Hontiveros and Tony dela Cruz and big men Asi Taulava, Don Allado, Nic Belasco, Romel Adducul, Rafi Reavis and Kenny Williams in the RP roster still up for approval by the Commissioner’s Office.

All these players, except Cortez, Dela Cruz, Allado and PBL ace Williams, will be coming in from their stints in the Cagayan de Oro-PBA All Star Game on April 29 and are expected to be in fine form against Rodman and company.

The American squad that will also feature Alex English, Calvin Murphy, Darryl Dawkins, Otis Birdsong and Kevin Willis will come from Mandaue City in Cebu where they play the San Miguel All Stars in the first game of the NBA Tour on April 27.

Reyes said they would be at a disadvantage since they knew very little about the other half of the team. "We know quite a bit about the veterans but we don’t know anything about their reinforcements," said Reyes.

"Of course, we know that they have tremendous size that’s why we put premium on height and flexibility in the makeup of our team," Reyes added.

The RP team mentor said they intend to put pressure on defense then run on every opportunity in the early going of the contest. "Hopefully, they maybe a bit slow for their age. It would be hard to beat them if they can still run. They have tremendous size with Kevin Willis, Darryl Dawkins and Rodman in the lineup," said Reyes.

"But it’s a good test for us because if we would play teams like China and Lebanon later we would be getting the same question on whether we can rebound against these guys?" Reyes also said.

Reyes bared they first picked Alapag, Cortez, Miller, Ritualo, Hontiveros, Dela Cruz, Belasco, Allado, Adducul and Taulava with these players having the best attendance in their practices over the year. Reavis and Williams were later added to the cast.

San Miguel’s Jong Uichico and Coca-Cola’s Binky Favis back Reyes on the RP team bench. Tim Cone begged off from joining the team to concentrate with his Alaska team which has been struggling in the PBA as of late.

Reyes said they would get some scouting reports after seeing them in action against the San Miguel All Stars in Mandaue. The San Miguel team is likely to be bannered by former PBA stars Samboy Lim, Alvin Patrimonio, Chito Loyzaga and Hector Calma.