RP 5 in limbo

Make no mistake about it, the Philippine team that beat Dennis Rodman and the Bad Boys, 110-102, at the Big Dome last Monday is for real.

That team would’ve surely made it to the top three of the FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball)-Asia qualifying tournament last year and earned a ticket to the World Championships in Japan on Aug. 19-Sept. 3.

Because of the country’s FIBA suspension, the Philippines was disqualified from playing in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) qualifying tournament for the FIBA-Asia Championships.

China, Lebanon and Qatar finished in that order to represent Asia in the World Championships. Korea wound up fourth and was left out in the cold. China is bracketed in Group D with Senegal, Italy, Puerto Rico, Slovenia and the US. Lebanon is in Group A with Nigeria, Argentina, France, Venezuela and Serbia-Montenegro. Qatar will play in Group C with Australia, Turkey, Lithuania, Brazil and Greece.

National coach Chot Reyes rued the fact that instead of the team preparing for war against the opposition, it is in limbo because the war is right in the country’s backyard. Despite expulsion by the Philippine Olympic Committee General Assembly as a National Sports Association, the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) refuses to go away because it continues to be recognized as the FIBA’s country affiliate. FIBA will not recognize another country affiliate unless the BAP surrenders and it looks like the BAP is far from surrendering.

Meanwhile, the suspension stays and the Philippine team–which practices once a week without fail–is in a state of suspended animation.

By the way, Reyes’ lineup could’ve even been stronger against the Bad Boys if Danny Seigle, Romel Adducul, Eric Menk, James Yap and a resurgent Danny Ildefonso were in the cast.

During the recent All-Star Week in Cagayan de Oro, Menk confessed that he’s been playing hurt all conference long. He said he can’t jump or run and it’s affected his rhythm. "It’s frustrating," sighed Menk. "I can remember playing without pain only in one game this conference."

There’s a possibility that Menk will rest for two weeks then return for the playoffs. He said for sure, he will undergo surgery to remove bone spurs after the conference.

In his remarks to close the All-Star event at a farewell dinner in Cagayan de Oro last Saturday, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Noli Eala paid tribute to Menk, John Arigo and Brandon Cablay for flying over and participating in the festivities despite injuries. Seigle also deserved a purple heart for playing hurt in the All-Star Game.

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Coca-Cola’s William Antonio won the 3-Point Shootout, a highlight of the skills events during the All-Star Week last Friday. That meant Antonio and the two other finalists–Olsen Racela and James Yap–gained the right to face retired veterans Ric-Ric Marata, Boybits Victoria and Jojo Lastimosa in the Legends Shootout which was the chief aperitif of the All-Star Game the next day.

But alas, Antonio was nowhere to be found when the Legends Shootout was about to begin. PBA officials frantically searched for Antonio who was in his hotel room. Antonio said he didn’t know he had to play in the Legends Shootout. He hurriedly got dressed to rush to the Xavier University gym but it was too late.

Ren-Ren Ritualo took Antonio’s spot in the Shootout, which the Legends won by a whisker, 42-41, with hometown hero Lastimosa as the anchor. The final scores were Ritualo 13, Victoria 16, Yap 11, Marata 12, Racela 17 and Lastimosa 14.

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PBA chairman Ely Capacio cited the players’ professionalism in extending his congratulations for a job well done in the All-Star extravaganza. Capacio was in Cagayan de Oro with league officials Robert Non of San Miguel Corp., Frankie Lim of Talk ‘N’ Text, Lito Alvarez of Air21 and Hector Calma of Coca-Cola.

Guests during the All-Star festivities included J. Romero and Associates advertising executive Andre Kahn, NBA Asia’s Carlo Singson and Radio Mindanao Network head Eric Canoy (whose pretty daughter Erin plays volleyball for St. Benilde in the WNCAA).

Singson suited up for the PBA selection that was held to an 86-all standoff by the Northern Mindanao Executives in a preliminary to the All-Star Game last Saturday.

On the possibility of inviting Niño Canaleta to compete in the NBA Slam Dunk contest, Singson said it must be justified relative to how his participation will impact on the league’s global strategy. In 1989, Lithuanian Rimas Kurtinaitis was invited as a guest to participate in the All-Star Shootout so there is a precedent of a non-NBA player competing in an NBA event.

Singson said the US basketball team is scheduling four exhibition games before proceeding to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. The games will probably be played in four different China cities even as Taiwan is bidding to host at least one. Would Manila be interested to bid, too?